Rise Festival

Conference condemns the recent decision by the newly elected Tory Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to take anti-racist campaigning and politics out of the annual Rise Festival. In a statement issued to trade unions last week, and confirmed in writing to UNISON on Tuesday, Johnson’s Director of Cultural Policy stated that the explicitly anti-racist campaigning […]

Burma

Conference notes with growing alarm the unfolding natural disaster in Burma. Conference is appalled at the response by the military junta in Burma to the natural disaster of Cyclone Nargis, illustrating as it does the contempt in which the regime holds the well-being of its own people. The failure to put in place any meaningful […]

EU Treaty

Conference notes that in the only test of public acceptability that has been given to any of the nations of Europe on the Lisbon Treaty (the latest incarnation of the European Constitution), the people of Ireland voted decisively to reject it on the 11th June .Conference welcomes the Irish vote. This historic vote to scrap […]

Opposing the far right and promoting community cohesion

Conference welcomes the development of a national policy on vulnerable workers; congratulates UNISON members and activists on the success of the ongoing campaign against the far right and notes the success of the ongoing campaign against the British National Party (BNP) over the past year. However, the growth and influence of the far right will […]

Gun and Knife Crime

This Conference notes with concern that gang culture is widespread amongst some young people within some parts of the UK. Increasingly, young people are joining gangs, often carrying imitation or real firearms and knives, both for protection and as part of their image. Conference believes that the devastating consequences of gun and knife crime across […]

Defending and Promoting Multiculturalism

Conference notes that recent months have seen sections of the media and politicians attempt to discredit multiculturalism by holding it responsible for various social problems. Conference condemns in particular statements made by government ministers and media coverage designed to create a climate of Islamophobic hysteria and isolate, demonise and even criminalise Islamic religious practices, choice […]

Palestine

Conference welcomes the fact that UNISON has adopted comprehensive policy on Palestine at successive national delegate conferences in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Conference notes that 2007 marked the fortieth anniversary of the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. 2008 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the “Nakba” which […]

Basic State Pension

Conference notes the Government’s eventual recognition that the pensions-earnings link should be restored and that employers should no longer be able to evade taking some responsibility for their employees pensions. Conference does not, however, accept the Government’s proposals that: 1)the link will not be restored before 2012; 2)even then, restoration will only occur “subject to […]

Home Care Services

Conference notes: 1)composite E passed at 2007 National Delegate Conference of UNISON, regarding Home Care; 2)that despite the sentiments of this motion, the Employers and Government have accelerated the drive to privatise and destroy publicly provided health and social care services; 3)this has led to the undermining of conditions and pay for a predominately (and […]

Heading for a Student Crisis/Supporting the Future of Health Professions

Health students across the National Health Service face significant challenges throughout their studies; to become the nurses, midwives, paramedics, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners and social workers of the future. With clinical placements and high course hours on top of their academic work, the knowledge of a secure job at the end is a significant […]

Mental Health Services

Conference is appalled that mental health services are still so poorly funded in comparison with other parts of the NHS and that some staff in mental health teams are increasingly taking on more responsible roles, without the appropriate acknowledgement or reward for doing so. Government promises to prioritise mental health services have not been carried […]

Violence & Assault Agaisnt NHS Staff

Conference notes the statistics published by the NHS Security Management Service for 2006-7 showing a fall in violence against NHS staff in England. However Conference is concerned that in both the Ambulance and Mental Healthcare sectors the reduction was significantly less than elsewhere and front line workers in these areas continue to face unacceptable levels […]

Downgrading through Restructuring

This conference is concerned that many NHS employers are seeking to avoid their obligations under the Agenda for Change agreement by conducting restructurings of their organisations, or sections or departments within them, to deliberately achieve the down-banding or down-grading of staff, particularly those in clinical or therapy or professional specialist or leadership posts. The government’s […]

Supporting Cleaning Staff and the Cleaner Hospitals Campaign

Conference notes the attention given to hospital infection rates, and the resulting government campaign for cleaner hospitals. Because of the requirement to make huge efficiency savings and continuing lack of resources, cleanliness in hospitals is suffering and more and more cleaning staff are having to take on extra duties including “hands-on” patient care. We note […]

Health Care Associated Infections and the Cleaner Hospitals Campaign

Conference notes with concern that in England the majority of NHS Trusts are unlikely to meet their target, pledged by John Reid in November 2004, of halving Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) incident rates by April 2008. Conference is also concerned about the rise in incidence of Clostridium difficile (C diff) which now poses a bigger […]