Why there is nothing “natural” about the Daily Mail

Conference is appalled at the recent article in the Daily Mail surrounding the death of the Boyzone singer, Stephen Gately, where they imply that his death was due to him being gay. Columnist Jan Moir wrote: “Healthy and fit 33 year old men do not just climb into their pyjamas and go to sleep on […]

Public Services fail Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LBT) Women Victims of Domestic Abuse

Conference it is reported that domestic abuse (DA) costs the UK an estimated £2-3 billion pound a year this is through time off work, and the costs accrued by the criminal justice and health systems. Domestic abuse knows no boundaries of gender, culture, class, age, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or belief. However, women are most […]

Discrimination against people living with Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV)

Conference acknowledges the new campaign launched earlier this year by the Terence Higgins Trust with regards to the recruitment of people living with HIV. It records that this group are being discriminated against both during the application process and at interview. It is also noted that they are questioned about their medical history and in […]

English national bus pass for disabled people and over 60s

Conference welcomes the introduction of a national scheme for free bus travel for disabled people and the over 60s in England. Conference however notes that travel is only free between 9:30am and 11pm in some areas. Conference believes that 9.30am-11pm restriction is entirely unnecessary and has a major impact on – not to say “cramps […]

Palestine

Conference notes that UNISON has called for many years for peace with justice for the Palestinian people and that the resolution adopted by National Delegate Conference 2009 reiterated UNISON’s belief that a just solution must be based on international law, and that Israel must: 1.Withdraw to its 1967 borders; 2.Allow the refugees the right of […]

Gender neutral access to marriage and civil partnership

Conference recognises that civil partnerships provide almost equal rights to marriage under UK law. Conference also recognises that the historical connection of the institution of marriage with organised religion and with the oppression of women means many people welcome the existence of civil partnerships as an alternative legal process. Conference notes with concern that currently […]

Opposing LGBT Hate Crimes

Conference is appalled at the vicious attack against a young man in Liverpool on 25th October 2009. Conference notes the incident was treated by the police as a homophobic attack. Conference reaffirms its support for all victims of hate crimes as well as their families. Hate crimes in general, and homophobic/biphobic/transphobic hate crime in particular, […]

Tackling Hate Crime at Every Level

Conference deplores the recent spate of homophobic hate crimes, including the murder of Ian Baynham, kicked to death by teenagers in London’s Trafalgar Square on 25 September, and the life threatening attack on James Parkes, set on by up to 20 young people outside a gay bar in Liverpool on 25 October. Also in October, […]

Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Conference notes with concern the draft “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” introduced in the Ugandan Parliament on 14 October 2009. Uganda’s penal code, inherited from British colonial rule, already criminalises “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature”. The police arbitrarily arrest people accused of consensual sex with someone of the same gender. There are documented […]

SOCIAL CARE GREEN PAPER

Conference notes that in 2008 the Government called a national debate on the future of social care which resulted in the publication in July 2009 of a Green Paper “Shaping the Future of Care Together”. The paper sets out options for the future development and funding of social care provision based on the creation of […]

ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE

Following the introduction of the Green Paper on Care/Attendance Allowance, Conference calls upon the National Retired Members’ Committee and the National Executive Council to oppose the proposed changes to the way that Attendance Allowance will be paid if the bill is passed. Currently the allowance is a national agreement but the proposals are that the […]

PERSONALISATION IN SOCIAL CARE

Conference recognises that the personalisation in social care agenda is a major challenge for UNISON. Local authorities are focusing on the roll-out of various forms of ‘cash for care’: direct payments, individual budgets and personal budgets. This shift in the way care is organised and paid for will have huge implications for older people, including […]

SAVINGS AND PENSION CREDIT

Conference notes that an estimated 9 million of the UK’s 11 million pensioners rely on some form of income from savings as an integral part of their income, and that the value of this income has dropped significantly in value amid the economic downturn. Such savings – put aside from income when employed – were […]

PENSIONS

Conference regrets that in his March 2009 budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, again failed to increase the basic state pension to at least poverty level. He pledged to raise the basic state pension in 2010 by 2.5%, even if the annual rate of inflation, as measured by the RPI is less. This […]

GOVERNMENT GREEN PAPER ON CARE AND SUPPORT

This Conference notes the publication of the Government’s Green Paper on Care and Support on 14th July 2009. Conference further notes that responses are required by 13th November 2009. Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to ensure that the response of UNISON includes the requirement to make the provision of care both free and […]