AMENDMENT TO THE NDMC CONSTITUTION 05

Point i) After “National Women’s Committee”, insert “and two co-opted members from the Women’s Caucus at Disabled Members Conference”

DISABILITY LEAVE

This conference congratulates those UNISON branches that have negotiated the UNISON model Disability Leave Agreement with their employers and we commend their efforts to protect our disabled members rights at work. However, we note that many branches are still experiencing difficult negotiations and spending energy and resources persuading employers that their sickness absence policies and […]

MENTAL HEALTH, EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Conference welcomes the publication of The DRC’s Mental Health Advisory Group’s Report ‘Coming Together – mental health, equality and human rights’ This Report notes that discrimination and unequality systematically destroy people’s mental health. People with long term mental health conditions face some of the most severe exclusion in Britain, including an 80 per cent unemployment […]

THE SINGLE EQUALITIES BILL – GREEN PAPER

Conference welcomes the UK Government’s Consultation Paper bringing forward proposals to introduce a Single Equality Act but believes that the current proposals are a lost opportunity for disabled people. Any Single Equalities Bill must ensure that disabled people have the protection of the strongest possible anti-discrimination legislation. Conference calls on the National Disabled Members Committee […]

SAFE SPACE FOR DISA BLED LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER MEMBERS

This Conference is aware of the complexities surrounding disclosure of disabilities and recognises the similarities that lgbt people must face when disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity particularly if they are not ‘out’. Conference believes that disabled Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people face homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and affirms the need for […]

Coordination of Pay Campaigns

Conference is deeply angry over the government’s totally unjust 2% public sector pay limit, condemning low paid public sector workers to poverty pay and notes the: 1)decision of the Local Government Conference on the 18th June and of the Local Government NJC Committee rejecting the employers insulting 2% offer or any other received by the […]

Europe

Conference does not believe that a ‘Social Europe’ which gives priority to the needs of working people and their families is possible on the basis of the fundamental treaties of the EU which promote freedom for capital and monetarist financial policies. Conference notes that the European Directive on Services was adopted at the end of […]

The Comprehensive Spending Review and Efficiency

This Conference notes that the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) being conducted by the Chancellor will set the UK Government’s spending priorities up to 2011 and that it is perfectly possible to combine sound management of the economy with ample provision of high-standard public services. Already we know we face a tougher spending environment than previously, […]

Free Travel Pass

Conference believes that the provision of free travel is beneficial to the health and well-being of people over 60, and greatly enhances their quality of life. The government included in the 2005 budget, the introduction of free local bus travel for pensioners in April 2006. However, implementation has been costly and complicated. There have been […]

Trident

Conference, recognising current UNISON policy is firmly in favour of nuclear disarmament, is appalled by the intention of the United Kingdom (UK) government to replace the Trident nuclear weapon system. Conference recognises that the vote taken in the Westminster Parliament on 14 March does not signify the end of the process to replace Trident, with […]

Housing

Conference continues to be concerned at the growing housing crisis. The housing market is now such that in many areas home ownership is not an option for many of our members. Even “key worker” housing schemes are becoming unaffordable for the very key workers they were set up to help. Currently there are three million […]

Arms Trade

Conference notes that a survey undertaken by Campaign Against Arms Trade in 2006 revealed that the 99 United Kingdom (UK) local authority pension funds invested at least £723 million in the world’s eleven largest military-producing companies and the UK’s five largest weapons manufacturers. A number of these pension funds also held additional investments in pooled […]

Safe Staffing Levels

Conference notes the recurring theme in both the literature and the media of shortages of Registered Nursing Staff, appropriate skill mix and overall staffing levels and believes that the recent financial crisis has exposed the extent to which the NHS relies upon agency staff, bank staff and overtime – often unpaid – to carry out […]

Future Pay Determination in the NHS – an expanded pay review body

In the early 1980’s Nurses, Midwives, Health Visitors and other NHS staff took industrial action over pay. This action led to the creation of the Nurses and Other Health Professionals (Pay) Review Body which since its formation in 1984 has, in most years, recommended above inflation pay awards. Occupational Groups not covered by the Pay […]

Private Contractor Staff

Conference notes the ground-breaking deal made with the Government, NHS Employers, the Confederation of British Industry and the NHS Business Services Authority for Soft Facilities Management employees working for private contractors in October 2005. Following on from this similar agreements have been made in Scotland and Wales. The Joint Protocol began the process of raising […]