Pickering Report

In July 2002, a Government appointment review by Alan Pickering, former chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds produced its report A Simpler Way to Better Pensions. This Conference believes that the proposals contained in the Pickering Report will have little impact on the current crisis and do nothing to boost employee confidence in […]

National Minimum Standards for Care Homes

This Conference is disappointed to note that when announcing the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes, the Health Minister, Alan Milburn, backtracked on some of the initial promises. As a result the National Minimum Standards will now apply guidelines on factors such as room size and single occupancy to new homes only. There will be […]

Future Structure of UNISON’s Retired Members’ Organisation

At the Retired Members’ Annual Conference 2001 delegates were informed that a final report on The Retired Members’ Organisaiton would be presented to and debated by conference 2002. To date 4 October 2002, this separate report has not been presented to delegates to the 2002 Conference. This conference therefore instructs the National Retired Members Committee […]

Retired Members’ Conference Dates

This Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to negotiate with the Conference Section for all future National Retired Members’ Conferences to be held on Wednesdays, with workshops on Tuesdays.

A Simpler Way to Better Pensions

Conference notes the publication of the report by Alan Pickering published in July 2002. Conference is concerned at many of the proposals set out in this report. In particular, Conference registers its disagreement with the following: 1)Change of pension accrual rate from 1/80th to 1/100th (one per cent); 2)Change of definition of pensionable salary to […]

Registration Fee – Power of Attorney

Conference notes that many pensioners are no longer capable of running their own affairs and that power of attorney is required in most cases. Conference condemns the decision of the Lord Chancellor, taken in July 2002, to increase the fee to register a power of attorney from £50 to £220. Conference calls upon the National […]

Ending of Age Discrimination

This Conference notes that the Government has taken a piecemeal approach to the enactment of anti-discriminatory law in the United Kingdom. In particular, the Government does not apparently intend to address the question of age discrimination in the provision of goods and services set out in a European Directive until 2006 at the earliest. The […]

Pensions Service

The Government launched the new Pensions Service on 1 April 2002. Prior to that date, pensioners received face to face support and had their information processed by specialist staff based in their local benefits office. This Conference is concerned that under the new Pensions Service: 1)Pensioners will be forced to make claims or raise financially […]

Ending of Tax Penalty on Pensioners

This Conference is concerned that nearly a million pensioners are being penalised on tax free allowances because of restrictions imposed by the Government. Such age allowance restrictions penalise modest savings and punish those who have worked to earn a decent pension. Conference requests the National Executive Council to raise this matter with the Government and […]

Political Fund Review

The growing anger and frustration of UNISON members at New Labour’s continued attacks on public services, through privatisation, cuts and low wages, was reflected at last year’s National Delegate Conference. Conference notes that the decision of National Delegate Conference 2001 to review the Union’s political funds was rightly seen by our members and the media […]

Palestine

This Conference expresses its deepest concern at the escalation and continuing acts of violence in the Middle East, whoever the authors may be. We believe that bloodshed will only cease when a degree of political perspective and dialogue is restored. Only then will a satisfactory solution be found to the Arab/Israeli conflict. Conference notes with […]

Globalisation

This Conference notes the increasing globalisation of trade in goods and services, and the powerful role played by transnational companies in this process. Conference also notes the huge increase in social inequality both within and between countries that engage in the global economy. Conference recognises that although international trade has the potential to lift millions […]

Directly Elected Mayors and Local Councils

Conference notes that the new Executive/Scrutiny split in the political structures of most local councils: 1)Reduces the role of back-bench councillors and leads to less accountability; 2)Reduces the ability of community campaigns to raise issues of concern to local people; 3)Can undermine the established industrial relations machinery and the effectiveness of the local union branch. […]

Elected Assemblies and Regional Government in England

This Conference notes that the creation of democratically elected Assemblies for the English Regions will have a major influence on the lives of trade union members. In those regions of the United Kingdom which now have devolved assemblies or parliaments, UNISON members can be rightly proud of the part it played in campaigning for these […]

Asylum Seekers

This Conference notes with grave concern the rising violence, state racism and inhumane treatment directed against asylum seekers in Britain and abroad in the past year. Conference further notes: 1)The horrific conditions which force asylum seekers to flee war-torn countries, as illustrated by the media coverage of the continuing war in Afghanistan; 2)The Home Secretary’s […]