GOODS AND SERVICES TO LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE

Conference welcomes the House of Lords Judgement in the Mendoza tenancy case. Conference congratulates the NLGC and the National Officer on the production of “Not Just a Friend” the Best Practice guidance on healthcare for lesbian, gay and bisexual service users and their families. Conference notes that the Cymru/Wales regional lesbian and gay self-organised group […]

CONTINUING THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A UNISON LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER SELF ORGANISED GROUP

Conference believes the UNISON lesbian and gay self-organised group should become a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender self-organised group and that the rules should be changed to facilitate this. Conference is committed to campaigning to win the vote at National Delegate Conference (NDC) in 2005. Conference is disappointed that its resolution to NDC in 2004 […]

EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY (SEXUAL ORIENTATION) REGULATIONS 2003

This Conference welcomes the introduction of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. Conference notes that in the High Court action over the Sexual Orientation regulations, the Judge ruled against the unions on both Regulation 7 (3) Religion and Belief Exemption and Regulation 25 Marriage. However, the judge accepted that a tight interpretation of Regulation […]

COMP NDC A – AMENDMENT TO RULE D4 – SELF ORGANISED GROUPS

In Rule D.4.1.4 delete “lesbian and gay members” and substitute “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members”.

GENDER RECOGNITION ACT

Conference welcomes the passing of the Gender Recognition Act which received Royal Assent on 1 July 2004. Conference notes that it is expected that people will be able to start applying for Gender Recognition Certificates from Spring 2005. Conference recognises that this act will allow transsexual people to obtain recognition of their true gender, which […]

POLITICAL FUND BALLOT

By March 2005, UNISON is required by law to ballot the whole membership on whether or not we continue to have a political fund. The unique structure of the UNISON Political Fund allows members to choose to pay into the fund affiliated to the Labour Party and/or the fund for general political campaigns. Conference deplores […]

REPORTING HOMOPHOBIC CRIME

This Conference condemns the brutal murder of David Morley in the early hours of 31st October 2004. Conference is committed to the LGBT community being able to live our lives without the fear of violence. Conference congratulates Education Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH) and the Metropolitan Police, Lewisham, for recognising the need of our community to […]

HOMOPHOBIC ATTACKS AND MURDERS

This Conference publicly deplores the horrendous murder of David Morley, aka Sinders, in the early hours of Sunday 31 October, 2004, on London’s South Bank, to what police described as a group of youths. David was a well loved and respected member of London’s lesbian and gay scene, and his murder has touched all of […]

Recovery of Council Tax Arrears from the Elderly

Conference expresses its concern at the proposals recently suggested by Coventry city and no doubt under consideration by other councils, to take steps to reduce the current council tax arrears, especially with regard to the draconian proposals for dealing with debt involving the elderly. These proposals including increases in the taking of bankruptcy proceedings, forcing […]

Turner Commission Report

Conference notes that the first part of the Turner Commission Report on Pensions is published on Tuesday, 12 October. The report will not recommend specific policy solutions but provide a detailed analysis of the pensions crisis. Leaked information, which appeard in the national press on Sunday, 10 October, reveals that the Turner report has identified […]

Devolution

Conference welcomes the decisions taken by this year’s National Delegate Conference to address the impact of devolution to the nations of the United Kingdom on UNISON’s structures and decision-making processes. UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning for devolution, recognising the opportunities that different political structures provide to influence policy makers for the benefit […]

Crisis in Pensions

Conference notes the publication of the First Report of the Pensions Commission on Tuesday, 12 October 2004. In particular, Conference notes that the Commission has identified three ways to alleviate the pensions crisis: a)People must save more (compulsory savings cannot be ruled out); b)People must work longer; c)People must pay more (tax and/or contributions). Conference […]

Council Tax Relief

Whilst appreciating the action taken by the government for those national insurance retired pensioners over the age of 70, by the one off payment of £100 to alleviate the effects of the rising council tax, Conference notes with regret that the government is still practising ageism by rewarding the £100 council tax relief only to […]

Pensioners’ Manifesto

Conference welcomes the production of the pensioners’ manifesto by the National Pensioners’ Convention. The final version of the manifesto will include a summary of the main priorities as well as a costing of how the policies can be funded. This is a truly historic initiative to put forward a coherent set of pensioners’ demands at […]

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS

This conference believes that the Home Secretary’s National Identity Card Initiative is an attack at an individual’s right to privacy and a possible violation of their human rights. Areas of concern include: 1.Recording of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, race, colour, or impairments; 2.Recording of a person’s political persuasion or religious beliefs; 3.Medical data […]