LOCAL YET GLOBAL – SUPPORTING OUR SISTERS OVERSEAS

We remember Thabitha Khumalo from Zimbabwe who as a guest speaker at 2006 National Delegate Conference gave an inspirational speech about the struggles for basic rights that women face in her country. Every year at National Women’s Conference motions are proposed and carried supporting our sisters overseas. In recent years, Conference has supported women of […]

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Conference recognises that the issue of violence against women is something that many women feel passionately about tackling. Women who are not politically active in other ways attend Reclaim the Night events or support local refuges. Therefore this issue should be used as not only a campaigning issue but an organising one as well. There […]

PREGNANT WOMEN AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

This National Women’s Conference is concerned at the impact that substance abuse can have on pregnant women and their babies. Substances that can affect the foetus are: 1)Cannabis 2)Heroin 3)Methadone 4)Cocaine 5)Crack cocaine 6)Crystal methamphetamine 7)Prescription drugs 8)Nicotine 9)Alcohol Education on the hazards of misusing substances during pregnancy is urgently required and the Government should […]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Domestic violence continues to be a matter of concern to women in UNISON. Despite the fact that there have been many motions to the National Women’s Conference on this issue there are still many of our employers who do not have domestic violence policies for their own staff. Given the increase in the use of […]

THE INDEPENDENT SAFEGUARDING AUTHORITY

Conference notes that The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is a new public body which is being created with the intention of preventing unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults. From October 2009, all individuals working or volunteering with vulnerable adults or children will be required to register with the ISA. This will affect […]

MILLION WOMEN RISE AGAIN

Conference congratulates the Million Women Rise Coalition (MWRC) on the success of the 2008 march and rally which saw over 5,000 women and girls gathered in London to protest male violence against women and endemic gender discrimination. The rally was addressed by a range of inspiring speakers from across the country, representing a broad spectrum […]

RAPE CRISIS

Conference applauds the National Women’s Committee for its previously undertaken work on sexual violence and the conference policy decisions to support the work of Rape Crisis. However there is much still to do. Conference believes that rape crisis centres are essential and distinctly different in their role to the government created Sexual Assault Referral Centres […]

OVARIAN CANCER

Ovarian cancer is still the fourth most common cause of death from cancer amongst women in the UK. Every year about six thousand women in the UK are diagnosed with this disease, the majority of these cases only have a few symptoms, which are treated as other illnesses until finally being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. […]

Lack of Service for Black Children with Autism

Conference notes that in 2007 the National Autistic Society (NAS) published its report containing the largest ever survey conducted into autism and education in the UK. The report highlighted the lack of provision and training for teachers dealing with autism in general, including families struggling to access support for their children. This was consistently worse […]

Recruitment of Black Members into UNISON

Conference believes that the best tool to recruit Black members into UNISON is by highlighting our success for individual members and collectively at a local, regional and national level. Conference further believes that more Black activists must take up active roles within UNISON at all levels as this will in turn also promote and encourage […]

Encouraging Black Members to become Black Activists

Conference recognises that Black members face distinct challenges in becoming active within UNISON structures. Many Black members who join UNISON want to become more involved but there are few signposts to show them the way. Conference supports UNISON’s Fair Representation Policy as an important principle but believes this has not generated a significant increase in […]

Labour Government and the Black Community

The trade union has had a long and historic link with the Labour Party. The current government has lost its way, it is no longer a party for the working class and the vulnerable within our society, also it creates a disillusion and disappointment amongst our Black people in society, a large percentage of our […]

Fears over missing Black Children

Conference applauds the Government’s announcement to introduce adequate measure which will protect and support young runaways and missing children by ensuring that relevant authorities collect and collate data on runaways and missing children which is then forwarded onto a national database. Conference is concerned: about the alarming figures relating to missing Black children. A recent […]

Developing Black Activists to Senior Positions within UNISON Structures

Conference notes the valuable contribution made by Black activists in achieving UNISON’s aim of being an equal opportunities trade union, as well as the commitment of Black members in providing a quality service throughout the service groups. Conference applauds the work done by UNISON in producing a Race Equality Scheme. However, what is being done […]

Communities in Control – Real People Real Power

Conference welcomes the white paper, Communities in Control – Real People Real Power. This Conference further notes the key proposals include: 1.A general duty on councils to promote local democracy through a range of actions which include; clearer information, better trained staff, improved engagement of young people and “more visible councillors in the community”. The […]