EFFECT ON OLDER PEOPLE OF DECLINING PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Conference notes with concern that in an ageing society the public transport system in the UK fails to meet the needs of older people. This is as a result of a reduction in bus services, lack of rural transport, rising fares, increased journey times and cancelled trains. The inability to travel has a major impact […]

UNISON CHARTER FOR OLDER PEOPLE

Conference supports the view expressed by previous motions that a revised UNISON Charter for Older People could be a valuable resource to promote the UNISON Retired Members’ Organisation, help retain members when they retire, involve and activate retired members and showcase UNISON and trade unionism among older people. Conference notes that there is much existing […]

SEASONAL DEATHS

Conference notes with concern the growing number of winter deaths year by year as a result of cold related illnesses in England and Wales. An estimated 50,100 older people died in England and Wales between December 2017 and March 2018. This equates to 417 deaths a day or 17 deaths an hour which was the […]

Senior Railcard Travel Restrictions

This Conference notes that since the denationalisation of the Railways and the breaking up of British Rail, several train companies have now taken over the running of the trains all over the country. The introduction of the Senior Rail Card which is national and is recognised by all the companies is excellent and very helpful […]

Free Travel Pass for those aged 60

We ask Conference to consider the impact of rising travel costs on older men and women not yet in receipt of a free travel pass due to their eligibility rising with state pension age. Many are experiencing loneliness and isolation, which in many cases affects their health and well-being. Even men and women with a […]

Policies on dealing with abusive customers in call centres

Conference notes that many energy members work in call centres and operational centres where they take calls from operational colleagues and customers. While most callers are reasonable, there is always a proportion that are unreasonable and some who are extremely abusive. In workplaces with generally high levels of stress, this can be intolerable. People who […]

Training Mental Health First-Aiders in Energy Workplaces

Conference notes that since 1981, workplaces have been required to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and people, to ensure that employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work. Yet in 2019, there is still no statutory requirement for employers to provide mental health first aid […]

Utility and Energy Industry Privatisation

Many members within the above industries no longer have the luxury of a Defined Benefits (DB) pension and are relying on a much inferior Direct Contributions Pension scheme for their retirement. A lot of these workers have used the Share Save and Share Incentive Plan (SIP) share schemes within these companies to subsidise the shortfall […]

Improving Women Workers Protection Against Sexual Harrassment

Conference recognises the work that UNISON has undertaken on the issues of sexual harassment, particularly the joint research in 2018 with the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Surrey on the levels of sexual harassment in the police force. Sexual harassment in the workplace is nothing new. Attacks against women […]

We Are Still Standing

This conference fully recognises the huge impact 10 years of austerity have had on the lives of our women members and their families. However there have been many success stories across our service groups in UNISON where our women members have had victories. Some of these may be small or large victories but all demonstrate […]

End Discrimination in State Reciprocal Pension Arrangements for Black women

Conference is seriously concerned that Black women workers face a triple whammy of discrimination in the Labour market, • disadvantage in getting decent and well paid jobs • destitution in retirement caused by low pay, an ethnic and racial pay gap • lack of access to good occupational pensions, This is additionally heightened if you […]

SHOW TRANSPHOBIA THE RED CARD

Conference, we are deeply disturbed by the rise in transphobia towards trans women during and following the recent consultation regarding the Gender Recognition Act (GRA). Whilst we recognise everyone is entitled to their own view, hate must not infiltrate our union. Conference welcomes the UNISON stance of supporting self-identification, but much work is still needed […]

Domestic Violence – Time for UNISON to Take Action

Ever week more than two women are killed by current or ex-partners and figures are sadly rising. Currently one in four women in the UK will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. All research indicates that in an economic recession, domestic violence and abuse increases yet meanwhile the Government imposed austerity cuts […]

ASK FOR ANGELA – IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

Conference notes that ‘Ask for Angela’ is a scheme instigated in Lincolnshire County Council in 2016, which has been endorsed and rolled out in other cities in the UK. The initiative provided a mechanism where women, who feel unsafe, uncomfortable or threatened on a date or a night out can approach the staff at the […]

Social care cuts and how it impacts women

The current cuts to our NHS and social care provision are causing great health poverty to women and families. Social care is the very bedrock of our society, women bear the brunt of the care crisis. The majority of the care workforce, paid and unpaid, are women, and the majority of those in need of […]