Post Offices

Conference Instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee and calls on the National Executive Council to liaise with the National Pensioners’ Convention, Trades Union Congress and all appropriate organisations to campaign for the cessation of the Post Office closure programme, with particular reference to rural areas as they are often the centre of village life for […]

Unpaid Carers

In the UK there are some six million unpaid carers who provide support for most of the elderly and vulnerable members of society, a saving for the State of £87 million per year. Conference therefore instructs the National Retired Committee and calls on the National Executive Council to liaise with the National Pensioners’ Convention, Trades […]

National Pensioners’ Convention

The National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) is Britain’s biggest independent campaigning organisation of older people, representing 1000 local, regional and national pensioner groups with a total of 1.5 million members. The NPC’s main objective is to promote the welfare and interests of pensioners, both now and in the future, as a way of securing dignity, respect […]

Trades Union Congress

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has 58 affiliated trade unions with over 7 million members and states its aims as campaigning for a fair deal at work and social justice. However, Conference believes that retired members of the affiliated trade unions are not as involved in the TUC’s campaign for social justice as they could […]

Improvements to the State Pension

Conference is concerned at the ever-increasing discrepancy between the basic state pension and the poverty threshold. In 2009 the NPC’s figures state that the poverty threshold is £165 pw whilst the basic state pension is £97.25 pw, a discrepancy of £65.75 pw. Much of the blame for this can be laid at the door of […]

Depression in Older People

Conference is concerned that depression in older people goes undiagnosed and that hundreds of thousands of older people may be denied treatment because depression is wrongly seen as a natural part of getting older. Conference, therefore instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to liaise with the National Executive Council and UNISON’s UK publicity outlets to […]

Hospitals and Wards, Treatment and Support Services

Many hospitals and wards, treatment and support services are being closed or threatened with closure up and down the country. Before hospital closures and mergers started most hospitals were serviced by a good bus service, but now many elderly patients have to travel on two or three buses in order to reach their alternative establishments. […]

Public Sector Ownership and Employment

Conference notes both Conservative and Labour parties are promoting co-operatives and mutuals for the public sector. The recognition, however rhetorically, of the importance of worker involvement as an essential condition for improving public services is welcome. On the other hand there is a serious danger, especially in the current context of cuts in public spending […]

Completion of the Good Friday Agreement

The UK government has betrayed the people of Northern Ireland by its rejection of proposals for a Bill of Rights which have the overwhelming support of all communities and the trade union movement. Ignoring the will of the people and the intensive work that has gone into this process over two decades is both disrespectful […]

Domestic Abuse/Violence – Workplace Agreements

Conference recognises that domestic abuse/violence is a complex issue that will often need complex solutions. Conference also recognises that domestic abuse/violence is a workplace issue that requires effective and progressive workplace policies and procedures if it is to be recognised by employers as a real workplace issue. Domestic abuse/violence is a workplace issue that affects […]

Public Services and Taxation

Conference applauds the dedicated work of public service workers throughout the country that has helped this country through a severe recession and provided a lifeline to countless families, businesses and individuals facing homelessness, bankruptcy, joblessness, poverty, or personal stress and poor health. Conference wishes to highlight again how crucial public services will be for supporting […]

The Future of the NHS

Conference notes that alongside extra funding and improved levels of care, recent years have seen a continuation of government policies to extend the marketisation of the English NHS and to create a larger role for the private sector. It is highly likely that this trend will continue whatever the outcome of the 2010 general election. […]

The Economy

Conference notes economists’ predictions that, after a year in which the UK economy shrank by more than five per cent, modest growth is expected for the first quarters of 2010. Unemployment (as measured by the International Labour Organisation) has reached 2.5 million and may continue to rise. Conference reiterates its condemnation of the financial system […]

Review of Political Fund Effectiveness

Conference approves the recommendations contained in the National Executive Council’s report on the Review of Political Fund Effectiveness. Recommendations: 1)The report of the Review of Political Fund Effectiveness, which was established to carry out a full review of the political fund arrangements “to scrutinise and reform operations and functional processes to ensure the highest levels […]

Defending The LGPS in England, Scotland and Wales

The Local Government Pension Fund (LGPS) and benefits must be defended and fought for as a key priority for UNISON. Unlike the other public sector schemes the LGPS obtains income from its investments. Therefore the governance and economic performance of the funds are critical to the survival of the benefits they deliver. Any detrimental changes […]