EM1 – Defending our reproductive and sexual rights

Conference is concerned that on 6 October the newly appointed Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, stated that he backs halving the legal time limit for women to have abortions, from 24 to 12 weeks. Only days earlier Maria Miller, the new Minister for Women and Equalities, said she supported a cut to 20 […]

PROTECT UNIVERSAL BENEFITS

On Sunday 7 October 2012, the Prime Minister, David Cameron gave an assurance that he would not cut universal benefits for pensioners such as free bus passes and winter fuel payments. This statement is the exact opposite of that made by his Coalition partner, Nick Clegg who has stated his support for stripping so-called “rich” […]

Disabled members and the “spare bedroom tax”

MOTION TO LGBT CONFERENCE Conference notes the changes to Housing Benefit Legislation which is leading to additional pressure on those renting in the private sector. The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) restriction to that of a room in a shared house for single people under 35 has led to an increase in rent arrears and homelessness. […]

The future for equalities

MOTION TO LGBT CONFERENCE Conference notes that the Minister for Women and Equalities is now Maria Miller, the former Minister for Disability. During Miller’s term of office as Disability Minister, we have seen unprecedented attacks on the rights of disabled people: • The closure of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) and funding passed to local […]

Attitudes against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Disabled (LGBT) Disabled People

MOTION TO LGBT CONFERENCE Conference notes that attitudes towards disabled people have worsened in the current economic climate and have been exacerbated by the Government. The government provides misinformation about disabled people and benefits which has led to a hate campaign by tabloid press and the scapegoating of disabled people. Labelled as ‘scroungers’ one tabloid […]

Pay and Pride

MOTION TO NATIONAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE Conference deplores the head-long attack on equalities from the Tory-led Westminster government and their attempts to dismantle workplace rights. Conference notes that this is particularly vitriolic in relation to public services, with the public sector equality duty portrayed as burdensome bureaucracy and public sector workers lampooned as well-rewarded, secure and […]

The right to family life – for some

MOTION TO LGBT CONFERENCE Conference notes with concern that recent immigration rule changes have – amongst other new restrictions – introduced a minimum income threshold for those wanting to sponsor a non-European Economic Area (EEA) partner to join them in the UK. This threshold starts at £18,600, rising to £22,400 for a partner and one […]

Out of many we are one – hope for real independence and LGBT equality in Jamaica

MOTION TO LGBT CONFERENCE Conference welcomes the election of Portia Simpson Miller as the first woman prime minister of Jamaica and celebrates the 50th Year of Jamaican Independence. Conference notes that Jamaica’s last prime minister had said he would not allow any homosexuals to serve in his cabinet. But Portia Simpson Miller said in a […]

‘Corrective’ Rape

Conference notes the positive steps and campaigns taken by UNISON’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) self organised group (SOG) to tackle violence against women both within the United Kingdom (UK) and as part of our International agenda. It is the right of all women regardless of their race, colour, religious belief, sexual orientation or […]

Raising the awareness of Domestic Abuse in the LGBT Community

Conference acknowledges the work that UNISON does to raise awareness of domestic abuse. UNISON published a model domestic violence and abuse policy in 2010 and works to ensure stewards and work place representatives understand that domestic abuse also has an impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and that they know where to […]

PALESTINE

Conference welcomes the: 1)Adoption by UNISON Conference 2012 of Composite L on Palestine, which reaffirmed UNISON’s existing policy and agreed that UNISON should: A)Use its influence in trade union bodies to raise the findings of the Russell Tribunal, which found that the state of Israel subjects the Palestinian people to a regime of domination amounting […]

Increase in HIV Education Spending

This conference notes the increasing Government cut backs on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) education. In 2010, the number of people living with HIV in the United Kingdom (UK) reached an estimated 91,500, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), with around a quarter of these people (22,000-plus) being unaware that they are infected. The HPA […]

Bargaining for trans workers rights

Conference is concerned that trans workers still face high levels of prejudice and discrimination when seeking work and once in work. A 2011 Government Equalities Office survey found that nearly half of trans employees experienced discrimination or harassment in their workplaces and 88% said that ignorance of transgender issues was the biggest challenge they faced […]

Improving equality for bi workers and bi visibility

Conference notes that the Bisexuality Report published by the Open University earlier this year on the experiences of bisexual people in the UK advised that: ‘Of all the larger sexual identity groups, bisexual people have the worst mental health problems, including high rates of depression, anxiety, self harm and suicide. This has been strongly linked […]

LGBT equality in the Commonwealth

Conference notes that the 54 Commonwealth states comprise one quarter of United Nations (UN) member states: one third of all humanity. The Commonwealth defines itself as a free and equal association of nations committed to the core principles of democracy, human rights, equality, non-discrimination, opportunity for all, liberty of the individual and human dignity. Yet […]