Conference is aware that the UK State Pension is among the lowest in Europe. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development noted that 14.5% of UK pensioners lived in relative income poverty in 2022. This is a high percentage compared to other countries. The state pension is increased each year in line with the triple […]
Conference motions
Conference welcomes the ongoing renationalisation of the railway companies. Scotrail has been in public ownership since 2022 and LNER since 2018. As contracts end all private rail companies will merge to re-form British Rail. Conference expects national rail will once more operate in the interests of the people and not for private shareholders. Among the […]
Submitted by National Retired Black Members Network This conference considers that older Black men’s health is of upmost importance to not just Black men but to their mothers, partners, friends and colleagues. Our concern about older Black men’s health reflects the drive for solidarity, equality, diversity and inclusion on the part of the wider union. […]
• An Old Age Pension was introduced on 1st January 1909 available to both sexes over the age of 70 if they were of ‘good Character’. • In 1925 a contribution-based State Pension started to be paid to men and women when they retired from work at age of 65 but a higher rate of […]
Conference notes that the Labour government’s first budget included an announcement that, from April 2027, pension pots will form part of the holder’s estate, no longer exempt from Inheritance Tax, increasing many pension holders’ tax liability. Conference further notes that the government has still to publish its detailed proposals for parliament to consider. Among other […]
This UNISON Retired Members Conference believes that all pensioners across the UK should have a universal right to an equal free bus pass wherever they live, offering the same ability to travel freely within UK, whenever they want. While bus passes assist pensioners to access services, travel for both pleasure and necessity, and is good […]
Conference welcomes the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report, 21st March 2024, entitled ‘Women’s State Pension Age’ which considered the impact of the arbitrary change in state pension age and its effect on women born after 6th April 1950. We note the level of compensation recommended by the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman recommended Level 4 compensation […]
Conference notes that the recent Supreme Court ruling on how “sex” should be interpreted under the Equality Act 2010 has caused real and deep concern for Trans people. Whilst the Court was keen to stress the limitations of the ruling it is not yet clear the full impacts that interpretation of it will have. There […]
Most of our RM in are pension schemes like the Local Government Pension Funds(LGPF) There is a considerable variation in regional LGPFs investments in Fossil fuels for example Lancashire invest only 0.3% whilst Greater Manchester is in the region of 6.0%. At UNISON National Conference in 2017 a unanimous vote supported the divestment of pension […]
Retired Members Conference shares the widespread horror at the ongoing events in Gaza and the West Bank. We welcome the comprehensive policy UNISON has developed on Palestine. We share the hope that a ceasefire will be achieved before our Conference meets in October but the intransigence of the Netanyahu government, whilst they retain the support […]
Conference notes that the removal of Winter Fuel Allowance for most pensioners has had the detrimental impacts that UNISON and campaigns supporting pensioners had warned it would. It has also proved to be a gift from Keir Starmer’s government to Nigel Farage and Reform UK who have been able to falsely pose as the friend […]
Conference notes that the removal of Winter Fuel Allowance for the vast majority of 10 million pensioners has had many of the detrimental impacts predicted by UNISON and campaigns supporting pensioners’ rights. It has also proved to be a gift from Keir Starmer’s government to Nigel Farage and Reform UK who have been able to […]
Retired Members Conference shares the widespread horror at Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and the intensification of settler violence on the West Bank, effectively backed by the Israeli state, which continues to establish more settlements in violation of international law. Conference welcomes the comprehensive policy UNISON has developed on Palestine. Conference shares the hope that […]
Conference notes the announcement by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, on Monday 9th June 2025 that pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income £35,000 or below will now be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment – an estimated nine million people out of the ten million people who had it removed last […]
• Conference notes with concern the campaign by Silver Voices, which highlights the state of the housing market for affordable homes for older people. • Providing more age-appropriate homes would enhance the later life experience of many older people, free many more family homes for younger people and reduce the pressures on health and social […]