Conference notes that, according to research from the University of the West of England, over half of 16-24 year olds use buses every week and two thirds of this age group do not have access to a car. For many young UNISON members, buses are essential as a cheap, convenient and environmentally friendly way to […]
Conference motions
Conference notes that the outcome of the PR24 price review process will require the water industry to increase customer bills over the five-year period to 2030. Despite this, Ofwat has failed to effectively target the vast profits being made within the privatised water industry, nor has it done enough to protect the most vulnerable households […]
Conference notes that the Government’s Growth Duty requires specific regulators to consider the potential impact of their activities and decisions on economic growth for the wider UK economy, alongside their other statutory duties. All government departments, including Defra and the Environment Agency (EA), are now subject to the Growth Duty. On 28 December 2024, Keir […]
Conference notes the ongoing bus reform initiatives across the UK, including franchising, enhanced partnerships, and efforts to improve services for passengers. Conference further notes that the first reregulation of bus services was in Greater Manchester, which completed on 5 January 2025 with the rollout of the third tranche of franchising. While these reforms aim to […]
Conference is proud that UNISON is one of the founding members of the Disability Employment Charter (DEC) which now has over 220 organisations signed up to it, including trade unions, disabled people’s organisations, public service employers, charitable organisations, and private sector employers. However, the Water, Environment and Transport (WET) Service Group is not well represented […]
Conference notes some of the heartfelt motions put forward at previous National Delegate Conferences (NDC) and as fellow human beings we can’t help but be moved by some of the harrowing stories of abuse and upset our members face on a daily basis. Migrant workers are too often the victims of exploitation including bad employment […]
Conference agrees that equality training should be a cornerstone of work within UNISON branches within the WET Service Group. Though not limited to, the Conference is mandating the WET Service Group Executive to work with UNISON’s LAOS and other appropriate departments to deliver specific WET branch training on Trans Ally and Anti Racism Activist development […]
Conference welcomes the production of the report, “clean water – a case for public ownership” and the subsequent parliamentary launch both in 2024. Whilst the report has been welcomed, the work must continue to try to impress on any future Government, the current failings of the system and to campaign for radical change in the […]
Conference welcomes the presentation at the 2024 WET Seminar from the organisation, Violation Tracker UK which investigates and publicises corporate regulatory infringements in the UK. Their data sources include the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Water Services Regulation Authority. The infringements identified have a […]
Conference notes specific concerns since the inauguration of the new government in the USA. Specifically the impact on females and those who identify as female. • Conference we have been concerned since the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022 and the attitude in some states in the USA towards abortion and a woman’s right […]
As Global leaders and international communities celebrate the fall of Syria’s Assad regime in January 25, discussions have begun in relation to the return of approximately 5.5 million refugees. In similar transitions such as Iran and more recently, Afghanistan, women’s rights have been endangered, and freedoms have been challenged. We have often seen in both […]
As a result of the Covid19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and cuts to jobs and services, there has been a significant increase in mental health related illnesses, with poor mental health reported as the main reason for absence from work. According to the Mental Health Foundation, social and economic factors can put women at greater […]
Conference notes that the rise of the far right, and the planned protests taking place at the end of October, presents a health and safety risk to Black Workers, in particular Black women in the workplace. Misogynoir is used to describe the discrimination against those who have the intersection of being Black and a woman. […]
This conference recognises the significant challenges faced by our young women members within this current financial crisis. Deeply impacting their mental health and overall well-being. According to the Young Women’s Trust (2024) recent report, 24% of young women have fallen behind with their rent or bills and 28% cannot afford food or even basic essentials. […]
Conference notes the recent report from Health Equity North, Woman of the North which has found the following: – Women in the North of England provide a disproportionately high amount of unpaid care compared to their counterparts in other regions, with 10.3% of women in the North engaged in such care, compared to 8.4% in […]