An article published in the Independent on 30 September 2016 revealed measures which will be introduced in April 2018 that will result in thousands of pensioners being hit by a new bedroom tax. This is despite the Government’s promise to protect the elderly from the hugely controversial benefit cuts. Pensioners are poised to lose at […]
Conference motions
On 23 June 2016 the “leave” result of the European Referendum was announced. Conference notes that it is expected that the two year process of withdrawal from the EU will be painstakingly negotiated between the UK government and the EU. Currently very little content of the government’s negotiation strategy or timetable has been revealed or […]
The Access to Work (AtW) programme is designed to provide disabled people with practical support to stay in employment. However, there have been significant problems with the scheme’s operation. Conference notes that the Work and Pensions Select Committee has concluded that the scheme helps “only a minority of the people it could benefit” and that […]
Conference following a suggestion by Baroness Thomas of Winchester, herself disabled, the House of Lords appointed a post-legislative scrutiny committee to look at the impact of the Equality Act 2010 on disabled people. The Committee’s remit was to consider: • Why change was needed; • If the Act has been successful; • If the Government […]
Conference the menopause affects women in many different ways; and just like periods, it is something rarely discussed. We know that the menopause effects different ages and last for different periods of time. The symptoms can be very different from one woman to the next. There are at least 34 recognised different symptoms for example: […]
This conference instructs the NDMC and calls upon the NEC (National Executive Council) to use any means at the disposal to ensure that the unfavourable situation that exists against blind and partially sighted people who use a tablet or similar device to access “text to speech” is ended. The market has spotted a gap in […]
Conference notes that Sickle Cell, Thalassemia and Lupus disproportionately affect Black people, who may have increased bouts sickness, hospitalisation, infection and associated illness. These absences often trigger disciplinary & capability procedures. We call on the National Disabled Members Committee to: 1. review existing literature and add references to Sickle Cell, Thalassemia and Lupus where not […]
Conference notes that Dyslexia/Dyspraxia are the most common causes of reading, spelling and writing difficulties. 1 in 10 people are estimated to experience these problems. Research shows that Black people are disproportionately affected. Dyslexia goes beyond reading/writing difficulties. The issues faced by Black Members are often misdiagnosed as performance related. Managers are quick to initiate […]
Conference welcomes the successful campaigning by UNISON which has led to the Trade Union Act not being as draconian as was originally intended, however, its implementation will still have a massive impact on UNISON’s ability to organise in the work place, facilities time and our equalities work. Being activists in our union without dedicated facility […]
Conference recognises that many disabled women are not aware if a disability leave policy exists in their workplace or how to make use of it if one should exists. Currently sick leave due to disability being inappropriately classified as sickness absence can lead to disabled women facing disciplinary or capability action. Although disabled women may […]
Conference notes that many employers have introduced Capability Procedures which are designed to make it easier to terminate contracts on the grounds of either ill-health or performance. We believe these procedures are disproportionately targeted against disabled workers. Conference notes, with concern, that reasonable adjustments are never exhausted and in some cases are not considered at […]
Conference is concerned that hundreds of thousands of carers over retirement age receive no Carers Allowance in recognition of their efforts in caring for their sick, frail or disabled family members, friends or neighbours. In a press release of May 2016, Age UK estimates that carers aged over 80 now number 417,000, most of them […]
Conference notes that many pensioners in the UK are losing their lives through cold. It has recently been revealed that 43,000 pensioners lost their lives last year, largely assumed to the bad weather. Yet not one politician from any party uttered a word about this national disgrace. We repeat not one of our so called […]
Conference notes that there is growing evidence of elderly people suffering from loneliness. By deduction, this will include a large number of UNISON retired members. Recent research has found:- • 17% of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11% are in contact less than once […]
Conference believes that the most iniquitous aspect of the Government’s “Agenda for Public Service Pensions” [as far as our retired members are concerned] is its intention to grasp control of, and undermine the security of, pensions already in payment. At a stroke, their intended legislation on the Local Government Pension Scheme a)removes any effective influence […]