UNISON Buildings and Accessibility

Conference calls on the National Disabled Members’ Committee to campaign vigorously to the National Executive Council to ensure that all UNISON buildings conform to the Discrimination Disability Act 1995 (DDA) amended regulations relating to disabled access. The union has had five years to update its buildings and we expect UNISON to set an example to […]

Email policy

Conference notes the increasing use of email as a means of communicating with lay members, activists and officers within the union. With this increased use of email some disabled members are being disenfranchised and placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to others for reasons related to their disability. Branches need to be made aware that […]

Employability

Conference remains concerned that public sector employers do not have substantial and positive strategies for employing people with learning and physically disabilities. There are currently over a million disabled people in the UK who want work but cannot access employment. We are particularly concerned that existing arrangements within the disability benefit and tax credit systems […]

Public Transport

We have serious concerns regarding the commitment of the rail industry towards disabled people. Many stations have no ramps or lifts and platforms are only accessible by bridges across the tracks. When stations are refurbished disabled access on them does not improve either which clearly shows a lack of commitment towards disabled people using the […]

People with HIV

Conference welcomes the government’s response to the report of the joint committee on the draft disability bill with its commitment to extend the Disability Discrimination Act to provide new anti-discrimination measures for people with HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis that will be implemented in December 2005. We are pleased that these disabled people will no […]

Disability Discrimination and Health and Safety at Work

Conference welcomes guidance produced by the European Safety and Health Agency that says that health and safety issues should not be used as an excuse for not employing or not continuing to employ disabled people. Its factsheet adds that a workplace that is accessible and safe for disabled people is also safer and more accessible […]

Access to Justice

Access to justice is the right of every person, it is a fundamental human right. It is an essential part of our democratic society. Equal access to an independent, impartial and speedy justice system is a fundamental pillar of democracy. Disabled people face barriers to justice as they often do not understand their rights or […]

The Disability Two Ticks Symbol

The disability two ticks symbol is a charter mark awarded through Job Centre Plus, Department for Works & Pensions (DWP) and is available to any organisation that can prove and attain five standards: 1)to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities; […]

Pay Per Mile Driving

Conference is concerned about the government’s plans to abolish road tax and petrol duty, charging motorists instead on a per mile basis to travel. A driver or passenger entitled to the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance should be exempt from any new charges. Pay per mile driving could be particularly detrimental to […]

Abuse of Disabled Parking Spaces

Conference deplores the use of disabled parking spaces by non-badge holders. These spaces have been reduced in numbers considerably, especially in supermarkets, which is bad enough, but when they are blatantly used by other than badge holders, this compounds the infringements on the rights of a disabled person to park near the shop entrance. Some […]

Solidarity with Colombia

Conference notes that in Colombia: 1)184 trade unionists were assassinated in 2002, and that in all 7,000 people were victims of the political conflict, mostly peasants, indigenous people and the poor; 2)President Uribe Velez has opted for repression rather than negotiations, suspending democratic rights and implementing military rule in two regions, and increasing dramatically detentions […]

UNISON’s Anti-Racist Strategy

Conference notes that the National Executive Council as part of its overall objectives for 2004/5 has identified a number of priorities that inform UNISON’s race equality work. These are: 1)developing and implementing an anti-racist strategy across the union; 2)tackling racism in the workplace; 3)the effective implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act; 4)promoting respect for […]

Occupational Pensions

Conference notes the growing retreat by employers from the provision of good quality occupational schemes. This includes not only the closure of final salary schemes, but also moves to downgrade schemes by worsening accrual rates, increasing employee contributions and raising retirement ages. Conference believes that unless the above trends are reversed, the results will be […]

Organising in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Conference notes that substantial progress has been made in recent years in improving UNISON’s membership base and organisation in the community and voluntary sector. At the end of 2003 UNISON membership in this sector had reached in excess of 42,000, a 40 per cent increase since the adoption by Conference of a national organising plan […]

Choice, Equity and Accountabiilty in the NHS

Conference applauds the work of the union in campaigning against the introduction of foundation trusts and highlighting the marketisation of the NHS. Conference applauds in particular the sustained campaigning through the Labour Link which led to the overwheling rejection of foundation hospitals by the 2003 Labour party conference. Conference also recognises the important role played […]