The Forthcoming Political Fund Ballot and Funding New Labour

By March 2005 UNISON has to legally ballot the whole membership on whether they wish to have a political fund or not. This fund, with its unique arrangement of two sections, affiliated and general, enables the union to donate monies to political parties and to fund campaigns deemed to be political. Conference believes that it […]

Regional Cost of Living Weightings

Conference recognises the high cost of living in London and the surrounding area. Conference notes: 1)according to the Land Registry the average price of a home in the south east region was £205,109 by the end of 2003, and the average price of a terraced house was £157,659. In Oxford the average home was £245,732 […]

End the Occupation of Iraq

Conference notes that ten months after the end of the war in Iraq: 1.The head of the Iraq survey group has stated that no Weapons of Mass Destruction exist, forcing the UK and UK governments to hold enquiries into the information on WMDs. 2. 3.The Hutton report is widely seen as having totally whitewashed the […]

Access to Facilities and Paid Time Off for All Trade Union Representatives

Conference welcomes the government’s new employment relations bill which contains many useful proposals including the right of unions to make it possible to uphold our rule books and expel elements of the far right from union membership. However, Conference regrets that the bill in its current form does not go far enough and leaves workers […]

Fighting the BNP

Conference believes that racist and fascist organisations have no place in a democratic and pluralistic society. Conference notes that the recent successes of the British National Party (BNP) have been achieved against a background of media-inspired hysteria against asylum seekers, poverty, supposedly failing public services and the failure of the traditional political parties to engage […]

Housing

Conference condemns the government’s failure to tackle the country’s housing crisis. Conference notes that since May 1997, only 1343 council houses have been built. Futhermore, housing finance rules mean that local authorities are prevented from directly investing in existing council housing in order to bring it up to a decent standard. The government’s priorities on […]

Public Services

Conference shares the government’s ambitions of a future fair for all, delivering to all citizens world class public services based on need and not the ability to pay. The public services have become the new political battleground on which the last general election was, and the next will be, fought. Conference notes with great regret […]

End the Two Tier Workforce

Despite government promises, a two-tier workforce is still operating in our public services. In England, Scotland and Wales, government has signed up to protocols about future services. In Northern Ireland, government is still considering proposals. In the meantime, low paid workers in health and education, who were privatised are being exploited. Conference calls upon the […]

Organising and Recruitment

Conference welcomes the dedicated work of regions and branches on organising and recruitment and congratulates the branches involved in the highly successful schools organising and recruitment campaigns, which led to significant increases in members, workplace contacts and stewards. Conference believes that UNISON is facing new and dynamic organisation pressures including: 1)a significant increase in public […]

Rule D.2 National Executive Council

Rule D.2 National Executive Council: Functions and Authority D.2.1 First sentence, insert at end “and a young members’ seat”. Add new Rule D.2.5 Young Members’ Seat “D.2.5 Young Members’ Seat With effect from close of National Delegate Conference in June 2005, there will be an additional representative for young members elected from a national constituency […]

Rule C.2.6.1 Retired Members

Delete Rule C.2.6.1 and replace with: “C.2.6.1A member may apply at any time for retired membership if she/he has had at least two year’s continuous membership immediately prior to their retirement from employment within those areas of work set out in Rule C.1 and who are in receipt of a pension and who are not […]

Rule B.2.7 Union Democracy

Add new Rule B.2.7: “B.2.7To devolve to regions policy making responsibility in relation to devolved administrations while maintaining the integrity and unity of the union in accordance with the Protocol issued under Rule D.2.8.5.”

Information and Consultation Directive

Conference believes that effective worker information and consultation is crucial, promoting the fairer treatment of the workforce and improving organisational performance. Too often employers consult the workforce inadequately or not at all, souring relations, depressing morale, and frequently leading to the implementation of decisions that are inappropriate and fail to reflect the reality of public […]

Rule F.4.1 Regional Council

Rule F.4.1 after “power,” insert “,where relevant, in accordance with Rule B.2.7”

Rule D.2.8.5 Powers

Add new Rule D.2.8.5: “D.2.8.5 to issue a protocol on devolved administration and union governance” Renumber subsequent paragraphs.