Conference notes that it is 30 years since the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 first gave disabled people the right to request reasonable adjustments at work. When the Equality Act became law in England, Scotland and Wales in 2010 the duty to make reasonable adjustments was included. The DDA remains in force in Northern Ireland. […]
Conference motions
The English Devolution White Paper, released in December 2024, proposes the reorganisation of local authorities, which could see the removal of all district and borough councils in favour of unitary authorities. Six areas: Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton and Hampshire & Solent have been included in the Devolution […]
Cuts to housing budgets are having significant consequences for our members, who are already suffering 14 years of Tory austerity. Over the past number of years, we have seen this workforce depleted resulting in additional pressures for housing workers, a rise in absence and many leaving the service. This has also meant for many having […]
Conference recognises: 1) The social care system in the UK is in crisis, characterised by chronic underfunding, fragmented services, and a workforce that is undervalued, underpaid, and overworked; 2) The devastating consequences of a privatised and market-driven care system, which prioritises profit over people and fails to deliver the quality care that individuals and communities […]
Conference knows that poor behaviour in colleges leads to staff experiencing stress, mental health problems, physical injuries and high staff turnover. It is the time for us to focus our efforts on tackling learner behaviour in the college sector as lower-paid support staff across the UK must no longer bear the brunt of abuse and […]
Conference notes the rapid spread of new technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) across UK local government. These new systems promise increased efficiency and productivity, and as such can appear to be attractive to local service providers grappling with the sector’s entrenched issues of underfunding, under-resourcing and steadily growing demand. Conference recognises the many potential […]
Conference notes that the government’s Employment Rights Bill included legislation to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) for England, which the Coalition Government had abolished. Conference welcomes the reintroduction of the SSSNB, which will give members working in schools a full voice in negotiations on national pay, conditions and career development. Conference in […]
Conference notes that migrant workers working across local government services face workplace discrimination and exploitation linked to their visa status. The complexity of the UK’s immigration system means that different visa types can lead to different challenges for members and branches. Many migrant workers across public services have been affected by changes to the skilled […]
Conference notes that the NJC Green Book was agreed in 1997. As part of this, ‘Single Status’ – a single pay spine for all council staff up to spinal column point 49 at the time in England, Cymru/Wales and Northern Ireland – was agreed. The Green Book includes the NJC job evaluation scheme, an equal […]
Conferences notes that the bargaining framework for many UNISON members in local government is changing. The government’s Employment Rights Bill, published in October 2024 included clauses to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) and to put in place the means to create a fair pay agreement in adult social care. Conference welcomes these […]
Conference notes that the conversation on the importance of and the impacts of women’s health conditions in the workplace has already begun. • In July 2022 the Government produced a Women’s Health Strategy for England Women’s Health Strategy for England – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk); • Unison National Women’s Conference 2024 saw a successful motion carried on […]
Conference, it is well noted that on average women live longer than men, yet women spend greater portions of their lives in ill health, make fewer visits to their GPs, receive less health monitoring, and take more potentially harmful medication. The gender health gap refers to the disparities in health outcomes and access to healthcare […]
Conference the British Transport Police Authority reports and alarming rise in violent crimes against women and girls, with 11,357 incidents recorded in the year ending March 31, 2024, marking a significant increase from 9,464 the previous year. Conference, we know that there are specific vulnerabilities faced by women, across the public sector and community voluntary […]
Menstruation affects most women, especially Black women as well as trans men and many gender diverse and non-binary people, for more than half of their working lives. While periods are a normal part of life, there are many ways that menstruation can affect working lives and the ability to do one’s job. Research suggests that […]
Conference notes that there are over 80,000 young women members in UNISON – nearly 7% of the total membership. However, young women are under-represented as UNISON activists and may experience a number of barriers in getting involved in their trade union. Conference believes that it is essential that young women are encouraged and supported to […]