Working with trans and non-binary service users

Conference notes the success of the National Lesbian, Gay, Trans and Bisexual Plus (LGBT+) Committee’s campaign on trans equality, particularly the trans ally training programme. Over 1,000 UNISON members have now been trained, and trans and non-binary members are being trained to deliver the training and reach even more members. Conference reaffirms our commitment to […]

Intersectional zero tolerance to hate crimes

This conference is deeply concerned by the steep rise in hate crime across the United Kingdom (UK) in the last 5 years. Conference welcomes progress made by UNISON over many years in campaigning and negotiating for equality both in and outside of the workplace. Conference is alarmed by the rapid rise in homophobic, bi-phobic, transphobic, […]

REINVIGORATING LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANGENDER PLUS (LGBT+) SELF ORGANISATION IN UNISON’S YEAR OF LGBT+ WORKERS

Conference considers that organising workers around a common experience is central to our movement. Prejudice and discrimination are deep-rooted, Members who identify as women, Black, disabled, LGBT+, young and retired members have traditionally been under-represented in democratic structures. Our self-organised groups (SOGs) and National Young Members’ Forum (NYMF) and retired members’ committee are essential to […]

Increasing non-binary and gender diverse inclusion

Conference notes that in 2022, the national transgender caucus changed its name to the trans, non-binary and gender diverse network to be more inclusive of all gender identities and expression beyond the gender binary. Conference welcomes this more inclusive name for the network. Conference further notes that our non-binary and gender diverse members make a […]

Addressing the lack of Black LGBT+ participation

Conference notes that this is the Year of Black Workers. UNISON has an estimated 185,000 Black members. Racial discrimination and unfairness continue to be an every-day experience for Black people at work, and in wider society. Even within our own union and within the self-organised groups (SOGs) there are barriers to Black members achieving their […]

30 years on: Re-affirming our commitment to supporting LGBT+ Asylum and Immigration rights.

Conference recalls and celebrates the significant work undertaken over the last thirty years by the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) Committee both within UNISON and in collaboration with national and international partners on the issues affecting LGBT+ asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant workers. Conference notes the “Equality and the UK Asylum process” […]

CONVERSION THERAPY

Conference notes conversion therapy that includes medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to erase, repress or change the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person remains completely permissible under law in the United Kingdom (UK). This is a huge concern. Conference welcomes the motions passed at the 2021 and […]

Police with Pride

Conference notes with concern the decision in 2022 by London Pride that the Metropolitan Police could not march at pride in uniform, and the decision in 2023 by Brighton Pride that Kent Police would not be welcome to march this year. However, Conference also notes the Baroness Casey Review into the Metropolitan Police reported “institutional […]

Amendment to Rule Option 1

Conference wishes the following to be considered as one of the choices for the two motions and/or amendments to Rule to be submitted by the Retired Members’ Organisation to National Delegate Conference 2024 in accordance with Rule D.1.10.4: “Rule D – Structure of the union at national level. In Rule D.2 – National Executive Council […]

Britain’s railway ticket offices scheduled for closure

Almost 1,000 ticket offices are set to close across the country with the loss of thousands of jobs and creating accessibility problems for different types of travellers, especially for older people and persons with disabilities not using smart phones or computers, without ticket offices and on station support a huge swathe of passengers could be […]

Housing, older people and the cost-of-living crisis

There are almost 11 million people aged 65 and over in the UK which represents nearly 20% of the total population. Yet the government continues to ignore the plight of many pensioners and to place the interests of developers and the private sector housing providers before the housing needs of older people. Many pensioners facing […]

New Versus Old State Pension

This conference notes that whilst the retention of the Triple Lock for the year beginning April 2023 must be applauded, in no small part to our own campaigning, we need to be wary of what the future holds. Conference must not be complacent and we will need to keep fighting for its retention in the […]

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

Conference – with the publication of the Casey review, and with the first national Police National Database (PND) vetting of all staff and officers recently completed, the omission of the requirement to declare masonic membership still manages to duck the bullet. All staff and officers have to regularly complete vetting forms and declare membership or […]

MARCH WITH PRIDE

Conference notes with concern the decision in 2022 by London Pride that the Metropolitan Police could not march at Pride in uniform, and the decision in 2023 by Brighton Pride that Kent Police would not be welcome to march this year. However, Conference also notes the Baroness Casey Review into the Metropolitan Police reported “institutional […]

AN ANTI RACISM CHARTER FOR ALL

Conference notes that on the 7th June 2023 the East of England Probation area signed up to UNISON Eastern Region’s Anti-Racism Charter. Whilst the Probation Service has a comprehensive work plan in relation to actions identified in a joint union employer survey on race, the feedback from members has been that the actions have taken […]