Recruiting Black and Disabled Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Members

Conference notes that UNISON’s LGBT membership is diverse and that our self organised group prides itself on being inclusive of all our members. Conference welcomes initiatives that have taken place to recruit more and Black and Disabled LGBT members including having a visible presence at UK Black Pride, distributing information on Beyond the Barriers campaign […]

Recruiting Black and Disabled Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Members

Conference notes that UNISON’s LGBT membership is diverse and that our self organised group prides itself on being inclusive of all our members. Conference welcomes initiatives that have taken place to recruit more and Black and Disabled LGBT members including having a visible presence at UK Black Pride, distributing information on Beyond the Barriers campaign […]

British National Party (BNP)

Conference notes with concern the continuing growth of the BNP in elections on 4 June 2009, in particular: 1.The largest ever fascist vote in a UK-wide election; 2.The election of two British fascists to the European Parliament and fascist County Councillors in Hertfordshire, Lancashire and Leicestershire; and, 3.Fascist and far right advance in certain other […]

Increasing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Activity Throughout UNISON

Conference believes that UNISON’s LGBT members should be encouraged to be active at branch, regional and national levels and to participate in the wider union structure subject to Rule C2, which defines the rights and benefits of each category of member. Conference believes that, were this to be achieved, it would make the union more […]

Fostering and Adoption in Scotland

Conference welcomes the passing of The Adoption & Children (Scotland) Act 2007 in the Scottish Parliament which will become law in 2009. In passing this legislation and the subsequent amendment to the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations, same sex couples will now be eligible to be assessed to adopt and foster children in the same […]

Family Friendly Practice and Privacy for LGBT Carers

This Conference welcomes the government’s new emphasis on family friendly practice in the workplace, and the importance of the informal carer’ role for both LGBT and non-LGBT people and their families. Conference notes that even when inclusive family friendly policies exist, LGBT and disabled employees and people may be inadvertently outed or inappropriate questions may […]

Support for Rural Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Youth

In rural areas many young LGBT people feel isolated, unsupported and invisible leading to increased levels of attempted suicide. Very often the support networks for young LGBT people that urban brothers and sisters enjoy just does not exist. Conference it is vital for the mental, physical and holistic well being of our young LGBT brothers […]

Maintaining Activism Against the BNP

Conference notes the recent shocking rise in candidates and actual election success’ of the BNP. The BNP stands against everything that we as trade unionists have fought and died for since our inception. The BNP is a fascist organisation, which particularly targets Black people, Muslims, migrant workers and asylum seekers. However trade unionists, lesbian, gay, […]

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Visibility in Public Services

Conference is concerned regarding the lack of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) visibility within public services. Whenever we go into hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, walk-in centres, one stop shops and housing offices, we are bombarded with literature relating to the heterosexual and non-transgender community. Within this literature we very rarely see any reference to […]

The Pink Passport

Conference recognises that in 2009 we still have a situation where LGBT people face discrimination, persecution and denial of human rights based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, in many countries in the world, including no less than 80 which continue to criminalise consenting same sex acts between adults. Many of these countries […]

Sexual Orientation, Religion and Belief

Conference notes that work place discrimination against Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) people became illegal in December 2003 and discrimination on accessing goods and services for LGB people became illegal in April 2007. Conference is saddened by the remarks made by Bishop Nazir-Ali, Anglican Bishop of Rochester, when he commented in July 2009, at the […]

Disabled Parking

UNISON national disabled member’s conference recognised the abuse of disabled person parking needs to be highlighted and to be tackled. It is often the case that disabled drivers are unable to find parking facilities either at their home at a retail outlet or at their workplace. In many instances the reason for this is non […]

Economic Recession

Conference is concerned that in the current recession disabled staff will be at a higher risk of job loss due to the need for organisations to reduce staffing levels. In the current economic downturn more and more organisations are looking to make efficiencies and this has resulted in a number of job losses. Due to […]

Access to Work (ATW)

Conference is concerned that Access to Work (ATW), a valuable resource available to disabled members is not well publicised or where information is available this is often incomplete or misunderstood. ATW allows disabled staff and newly disabled staff to receive appropriate levels of funding in the process of securing a job, and in providing equitable […]

Disability Leave

Conference notes that, despite the implementation of Disability Leave, employers are still failing to actively introduce disability leave as part of the employment sickness policy. Many disabled people are discriminated against whilst taking leave, due to their disability increasing the number of days of sick leave taken, which has resulted in members being dismissed from […]