Commitment to double waking night cover

This conference is concerned at the recent NPS proposal to extend the use of private providers to cover waking nights in Approved Premises. The issuing of letters to ‘identified’ individuals that they may be TUPE’d over to private providers in 2017 is seen as a premature and provocative act on behalf of the employer. This […]

Police & Justice Constitution

This Conference agrees to update the Police & Justice Constitution to reflect that Conference in 2015 did not support a proposal to introduce direct elections for sector committees. Conference therefore agrees the following amendments to the current Constitution In Section 3 Sector Committee, 3.1 Delete “recognising that currently, in accordance with Rule 3.7.3, any sector […]

Staff care = staff retention

Conference is concerned to note the impact that the previous government’s ‘Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) agenda’ had had on a previously successful and effective Probation Service. As well as a significant dramatic loss of jobs in the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) we have also seen the imposition of untested payment by results models of working, and […]

Improving workplace equality and diversity in the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies

Conference, Disabled members are concerned about monitoring, or the lack of it, within the National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) In the 2016 report “Equality Analysis of NPS Operating Model: Service Users and Staff” shows that staff declaration rates for disabled staff (and many other protected characteristic) in the NPS are at […]

Recruiting and organising LGBT members in police and justice

Conference notes the sustained attack on trade unions and trade union members carried out by the Tory government through what is now the 2016 Trade Union Act. Conference welcomes UNISON’s strong response during the passage of the Bill and affirms that our response now must be to increase our strength, recruiting more members and encouraging […]

Budget cuts and the effect on equalities training

Conference notes that in-service equality training for police and justice staff has many important functions. It helps make the workplace a safe place for all, gives staff the chance to have more equal access to career development and opportunities; and improves service delivery. For example, it can help staff to see beyond societal stereotypes and […]

Blue light proposals – a threat to police staff jobs

Conference is concerned that the Government proposals on emergency service collaboration is a threat to the further erosion of Police Staff roles. The initiative seeks to collaborate all ‘blue lights’ through the sharing of facilities, control rooms and support services and poses a further threat to Police Staff jobs. The work has started in many […]

Powers for Community Support Volunteers and Police Support Volunteers

Conference notes with concern the proposals in the 2016 Policing and Crime Bill to award significant police powers to community support volunteers and police support volunteers, by: a)creating two new designated volunteer roles – Community support volunteer (volunteer PCSO) and Police support volunteer; b)creating a reserve list of police powers to be exercised only by […]

Sector Committees for the National Probation Service and the Community Rehabilitation Companies

Conference notes that: 1)The existing national negotiating machinery for the Probation Service is now under review following the split of the Service into the National Probation Service and the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs); 2)The National Probation Service (NPS) is a civil service employer covering England and Wales with a workforce of 9,400 staff; 3)UNISON […]

Health and Safety in the probation service

Conference notes with concern that the new contracts in the Probation Service agreed by the Ministry of Justice do not take account of many health and safety and data protection issues. Members working in the service report that: a)the layout of the workspace leads to interviews with clients being conducted in open-plan offices, with no […]

An inflexible police service

The College of Policing guidance on flexible working states that “Policing is a demand led, 24/7 service where its people are key to its successful delivery. By providing flexible working arrangements for staff, organisations are shown to have a more motivated and productive workforce…. it is about gaining a balance that provides an opportunity for […]

Dispel The Myths Around Protected Police Budgets

Conference notes that in his November 2015 Spending Review, Chancellor George Osborne stated “Now is not the time for further Police cuts, now is the time to back our Police and give them the tools to do the job” (BBC News 25 November 2015). Yet in April 2016, the South Yorkshire Police outline policing plan […]

Local Government Trading Companies

Conference we know that many councils have now established local trading companies. As you know these trade as separate companies to the council, but are wholly owned by them. Within local UNISON branches we are told that the reasons behind these companies being established normally falls into two categories: 1)Service delivery model, where they do […]

Members in Schools – Career Development

Conference, all staff in schools carry out increasingly diverse and responsible roles, yet many have very little opportunity for developing their careers. We know that if staffs are given the opportunity to progress in their career, it results in improved morale, performance and expertise thereby improving the performance of the school. It is vital that […]

Area Reviews

Conference notes with concern that in September 2015 the Government announced a review of post-16 education and training. Area based reviews have begun, effecting members in colleges across England. Conference believes that these reviews are likely to result in further cuts, job losses and site closures, in a sector where members have already faced severe […]