Direct Payments

The London Regional Disabled Members’ Committee is concerned at the various ways in which the direct payments schemes are set up and run locally and nationally. All direct payments schemes should be properly funded, so that the same level of support can be obtained regardless of where you live. All schemes should be set up […]

Local Government White Paper

This Conference welcomes the White Paper’s encouragement to local authorities not to make voluntary organisations bid for funds on an annual basis. Many voluntary organisations provide invaluable services to disabled people and employ UNISON members. We also call for the Government to make the following changes to the White Paper proposals to meet the needs […]

Sheltered Workshops

This Conference does not support the principle of sheltered workshops which segregate disabled workers from non-disabled workers. They are often exploitative and increase dependency. However this Conference notes that disabled people who currently work in sheltered workshops would end up out of work and not in mainstream open employment if the workshops were to close. […]

Genetic Testing

“Conference 2001 Genetic Testing and Employment This Conference deplores the use of genetic testing in the workplace to determine presence or predisposition of impairment. The use of genetic testing is a medically based measure that seeks to establish value systems that disadvantage disabled people. It may be used by employers to discriminate in areas of […]

Disability Discrimination Act

This Conference notes the implementation in October 2004 of the next part of the Disability Discrimination Act. This means that all public buildings should be fully accessible to disabled people and has major implications for UNISON disabled members as employees and for service users. This Conference further notes the failure of Part 3 of the […]

Single Equality Commission*

This Conference has very grave reservations on the Labour Government’s proposed project to consider ways of setting up a single Equality Commission. Conference is concerned that UNISON disabled members and disabled people in general would suffer and lose out if serviced by such a single Equality Commission. This Conference calls upon the National Disabled Members’ […]

The Social Model of Disability

This Conference expresses its deep concern that the Social Model of Disability has been publicly criticised by Disability Rights Commissioner, Colin Low, who claimed that it contains important “truths” but also a significant amount of falsehood that “distorts reality in ways which are potentially damaging to disabled people”. Conference notes that over the past three […]

Stop the War

Conference opposes the British and US Governments unleashing an unending worldwide war against terrorism. We call upon Britain and the USA, and its allies, to cease all military actions and to withdraw from Afghanistan. Furthermore, we will vigorously oppose any continuation of this war to Iraq, Somalia, or elsewhere. We condemn the terrorist attacks on […]

Dignity and Respect at Work

This Conference welcomes the establishment of core objectives and associated priorities and as a much needed development. It has enabled our lay structures at national and regional level in partnership with staff to focus upon those key issues determined by our sovereign bodies. Conference also welcomes the initial work undertaken to apply both lay and […]

Housing Privatisation

Conference notes that the campaign against the privatisation of council housing is continuing and gathering strength. It congratulates UNISON members and tenants in Dudley and on the Aylesbury estate in Southwark for their successful campaigns for a ‘no’ vote in the tenant ballots. Conference further notes the outstanding success of the national, West Midlands Region […]

Age Discrimination and Citizenship

This Conference whilst recognising that age discrimination can affect people of all ages deplores the blatant age discrimination that young people face in today’s society. Discrimination against young people exists in legislation and other rules and regulations, including those relating to: 1)National Minimum Wage 2)Eligibility to vote 3)Job Seekers’ Allowance 4)Housing and Council Tax benefits […]

Combatting Racism in Local Communities

This Conference believes that the civil disturbances that took place in a number of towns in the summer of 2001 are a result of the economic and political exclusion of the working class communities in those areas. The exclusion has been exacerbated by structural unemployment that has resulted form the demise off manufacturing, social deprivation […]

Public Services

The future health of our public services is at a critical point, with a government committed to improving them after years of under investment, but increasingly choosing the private sector, not existing staff, as the solution to problems. Conference deplores the fact that the Government has responded to the need for better services by creating […]

Discrimination in Pension Schemes

This Conference welcomes the support of employers’ bodies for amendments to the Local Government Pension Scheme to the purpose of removing/amending those regulations which discriminate against non-married partners including same sex. Conference notes this matter now lies with the Government and that they have failed to progress the necessary changes to date as they are […]

Accountability of Regional National Executive Council Members

This Conference confirms that regional National Executive Council members need to be fully involved in the activities of their regional councils in order to maintain lay democracy in UNISON. Whilst recognising that regional National Executive Council members are elected by, and accountable to, the wider electorate of UNISON members throughout their region, Conference nevertheless believes […]