ACCESS TO WORK

The Access to Work (AtW) programme is designed to provide disabled people with practical support to stay in employment. However, there have been significant problems with the scheme’s operation. Conference notes that the Work and Pensions Select Committee has concluded that the scheme helps “only a minority of the people it could benefit” and that […]

EQUALITY ACT AND DISABLED PEOPLE

Conference following a suggestion by Baroness Thomas of Winchester, herself disabled, the House of Lords appointed a post-legislative scrutiny committee to look at the impact of the Equality Act 2010 on disabled people. The Committee’s remit was to consider: • Why change was needed; • If the Act has been successful; • If the Government […]

IMPACT OF MENOPAUSE ON DISABLED WOMEN

Conference the menopause affects women in many different ways; and just like periods, it is something rarely discussed. We know that the menopause effects different ages and last for different periods of time. The symptoms can be very different from one woman to the next. There are at least 34 recognised different symptoms for example: […]

END THE EXTRA FINANCIAL BURDEN PLACED ON THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON

This conference instructs the NDMC and calls upon the NEC (National Executive Council) to use any means at the disposal to ensure that the unfavourable situation that exists against blind and partially sighted people who use a tablet or similar device to access “text to speech” is ended. The market has spotted a gap in […]

SUPPORTING BLACK MEMBERS WITH DYSLEXIA AND DYSPRAXIA

Conference notes that Dyslexia/Dyspraxia are the most common causes of reading, spelling and writing difficulties. 1 in 10 people are estimated to experience these problems. Research shows that Black people are disproportionately affected. Dyslexia goes beyond reading/writing difficulties. The issues faced by Black Members are often misdiagnosed as performance related. Managers are quick to initiate […]

SUPPORTING BLACK MEMBERS WITH SICKLE CELL, THALASSEMIA AND LUPUS

Conference notes that Sickle Cell, Thalassemia and Lupus disproportionately affect Black people, who may have increased bouts sickness, hospitalisation, infection and associated illness. These absences often trigger disciplinary & capability procedures. We call on the National Disabled Members Committee to: 1. review existing literature and add references to Sickle Cell, Thalassemia and Lupus where not […]

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Conference recognises that many disabled women are not aware if a disability leave policy exists in their workplace or how to make use of it if one should exists. Currently sick leave due to disability being inappropriately classified as sickness absence can lead to disabled women facing disciplinary or capability action. Although disabled women may […]

TRADE UNION ACT AND DISABLED WOMEN ACTIVISTS

Conference welcomes the successful campaigning by UNISON which has led to the Trade Union Act not being as draconian as was originally intended, however, its implementation will still have a massive impact on UNISON’s ability to organise in the work place, facilities time and our equalities work. Being activists in our union without dedicated facility […]

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS V INCAPABILITY PROCEDURES

Conference notes that many employers have introduced Capability Procedures which are designed to make it easier to terminate contracts on the grounds of either ill-health or performance. We believe these procedures are disproportionately targeted against disabled workers. Conference notes, with concern, that reasonable adjustments are never exhausted and in some cases are not considered at […]

I’LL ONLY BE A MINUTE…….

This Conference recognises this phrase – ‘I’ll only be a minute’ as the most common reason abled bodied motorists give for parking in ‘disabled’ designated parking bays. For those motorists, or their passengers, who have mobility issues and who rely on theses spaces to be able to access work, services and shopping etc. the lack […]

MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPIONS

This Conference recognises that good mental health support for members in UNISON is of vital importance and congratulates Cymru/Wales Region on their initiatives and development of Mental Health Champions. UNISON Cymru/Wales has been active on mental health for some time. Last year, with the help of Mind Cymru and Time to Change Wales, Cymru/Wales Disabled […]

YOUNG WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH

This Conference believes it is clear that young members are amongst those groups where stress and mental health issues are of growing prevalence and concern. This Conference welcomes the work undertaken by our young members organisation to raise this issue through their work in Young Workers Month (November 2015). Workplace meetings and events were organised […]

Further Education Pay

Conference welcomes the first ever national agreement for FE staff in Scotland and that we are moving towards new national bargaining through the establishment of a new National Joint Negotiating Committee in Scotland. Employers and trade unions have also committed to negotiate a new single pay structure and new single set of conditions of service […]

Local Government Trading Companies

Conference we know that many councils have now established local trading companies. As you know these trade as separate companies to the council, but are wholly owned by them. Within local UNISON branches we are told that the reasons behind these companies being established normally falls into two categories: 1)Service delivery model, where they do […]

Stress and Overwork

Conference we remain concerned at the cuts and extreme pressures on local government workers and the real crisis in Councils across the UK, and support the need for more resources and investment by Scottish and UK Governments. The Westminster government’s slash and burn response to the economic crisis, and their austerity measures have resulted in […]