FREE NATIONWIDE TRAVEL

The Government included in the 2006 budget the introduction of free local bus travel for pensioners and disabled persons in April 2006 and free nationwide bus travel in April 2008. The implementation of the free local bus travel in April 2006 has not been consistent. Local schemes have been implemented but with many anomalies and […]

Coordination of Pay Campaigns

Conference is deeply angry over the government’s totally unjust 2% public sector pay limit, condemning low paid public sector workers to poverty pay and notes the: 1)decision of the Local Government Conference on the 18th June and of the Local Government NJC Committee rejecting the employers insulting 2% offer or any other received by the […]

Insurance Cover for Retired Members on UNISON Business

Conference notes that, until recently, retired member officers and representatives, in common with all other UNISON officers and representatives, had UNISON insurance cover whilst on UNISON business. Conference now understands that cover for retired member officers and representatives have ceased under new arrangements. Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to ensure that insurance cover […]

Recruitment of Retired Members

Conference notes that regions and branches monitor their membership figures for working members on a regular basis in order to inform an ongoing recruitment campaign. However, there is no such process in place for retired members. Conference therefore calls on the National Retired Members’ Committee to: 1)carry out an audit of the total number of […]

The Rise of Fascism

Conference recognises that many retired members will know from their own personal experience the dangers of fascism. Conference notes that the British National Party (BNP) is organising in the West Midlands, East London and in other areas across the country in an attempt to have at least one BNP candidate elected at the next General […]

Providers and Consumers Working Together

Conference regrets that UNISON’s press statements on public services are often perceived as the voice only of the providers of services. UNISON’s members, particularly retired members, are also consumers of services with similar concerns to those working in those services and are committed to the provision of quality public services . Conference therefore asks the […]

Cold Weather Deaths

Conference is concerned that the campaign to turn down heating thermostat settings conflicts with the advice to keep a warm home. Conference requests the National Retired Members Committee to seek, through the National Executive Council, assurances from the Government, and other interested bodies, that clear advice relating to elderly people is included in future heating […]

Equalities and Diversity

Conference notes that UNISON is a union committed to promoting equality and valuing diversity, and that these principles underpin all our organisational structure, policies and practice. These principles are enshrined in our nation rule book. Rule B1 Aims and Objectives, 1.2 and 1.3. Rule B2 Union Democracy, 2.3. They apply to all the union’s structures, […]

International Links

Conference recognises the outstanding role UNISON plays in the international trade union movement. UNISON recognises that Britain’s economy and political system are interdependent with Europe and the rest of the world, and that it is vital that UNISON works with sister trade unions in other countries and through key international organisations to promote and protect […]

Standing Order 3 – Speaking

At the end of paragraph 3.1 add new sentence: “Any member of a regional Retired Members’ Committee attending the conference as a regional or branch delegate may be appointed by their regional Retired Members’ Committee to move a motion or amendment submitted by that regional Retired Members’ Committee.”

Contrast Printing

Conference is alarmed by the continued use of small letters and the inappropriate use of colour printing on coloured paper so frequently used in publications. These practices are not acceptable to the elderly. Conference therefore instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to seek advice from UNISON’s National Disabled Members’ Committee and to take up this […]

Communications to Retired Members

Conference declares that effective and workable communication to all retired members is essential to the present and future interests of all retired members’ groups, and is disappointed at the lack of progress by the National Retired Members’ Committee (NRMC) in developing a clear policy for this purpose. Conference also regrets that no report has been […]

Entitlements to Health and Social Care

Conference believes that many older people are not fully aware of their entitlements to receive proper health and social care, in a way which suits their own circumstances. Where this is the case, patients may be deprived of their entitlements by misleading information from health care providers under financial pressure to cut services. Particular issues […]

Pensioners Holiday Insurance

Conference notes that pensioners, especially those over 80 years of age when seeking holiday insurance are either being refused insurance or being asked to pay exhorbitant rates. At present insurance to Europe if you are over 75 years of age costs £96 a couple for two weeks and insurers do not provide yearly travel insurance […]

Elder Abuse: Human Rights in Private Care Homes

In view of the fact that the rights of elderly people in private rest homes are not covered by the Human Rights Act, Conference urges the National Retired Members’ Committee to take note of recent well documented cases of abuse of elderly people in these institutions and to campaign for the section of the Human […]