Turner Commission Report

Conference notes that the first part of the Turner Commission Report on Pensions is published on Tuesday, 12 October. The report will not recommend specific policy solutions but provide a detailed analysis of the pensions crisis. Leaked information, which appeard in the national press on Sunday, 10 October, reveals that the Turner report has identified […]

Devolution

Conference welcomes the decisions taken by this year’s National Delegate Conference to address the impact of devolution to the nations of the United Kingdom on UNISON’s structures and decision-making processes. UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning for devolution, recognising the opportunities that different political structures provide to influence policy makers for the benefit […]

Recovery of Council Tax Arrears from the Elderly

Conference expresses its concern at the proposals recently suggested by Coventry city and no doubt under consideration by other councils, to take steps to reduce the current council tax arrears, especially with regard to the draconian proposals for dealing with debt involving the elderly. These proposals including increases in the taking of bankruptcy proceedings, forcing […]

Crisis in Pensions

Conference notes the publication of the First Report of the Pensions Commission on Tuesday, 12 October 2004. In particular, Conference notes that the Commission has identified three ways to alleviate the pensions crisis: a)People must save more (compulsory savings cannot be ruled out); b)People must work longer; c)People must pay more (tax and/or contributions). Conference […]

Council Tax Relief

Whilst appreciating the action taken by the government for those national insurance retired pensioners over the age of 70, by the one off payment of £100 to alleviate the effects of the rising council tax, Conference notes with regret that the government is still practising ageism by rewarding the £100 council tax relief only to […]

Communications

Soon after the formation of UNISON, National Conference agreed that the retired members would have a National Retired Members’ Manager appointed, with the duties of servicing the needs of the retired members. It was believed by the Conference that this would solve the problems of communication between members, branches, regions and head office with regard […]

Pensioners’ Manifesto

Conference welcomes the production of the pensioners’ manifesto by the National Pensioners’ Convention. The final version of the manifesto will include a summary of the main priorities as well as a costing of how the policies can be funded. This is a truly historic initiative to put forward a coherent set of pensioners’ demands at […]

Health Inequalities and Disabled Black people

Conference is concerned about inequality inequalities in health service provision for disabled black people. We welcome proposed changes to the Disability Discrimination Act to provide protection from discrimination to people diagnosed with cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis. However we are concerned that inadequate health service provision for disabled black people could result in disadvantage to […]

Accessible Health Screening

Conference is aware of the post code lottery existing throughout the NHS. John Reid pledged to end such practices following the report into NHS funding and service provisions in his speech in parliament in July 2004. Whilst Conference applauds the promises made to develop a fairer and equal distribution of health provision, we remain concerned […]

Email policy

Conference notes the increasing use of email as a means of communicating with lay members, activists and officers within the union. With this increased use of email some disabled members are being disenfranchised and placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to others for reasons related to their disability. Branches need to be made aware that […]

UNISON Buildings and Accessibility

Conference calls on the National Disabled Members’ Committee to campaign vigorously to the National Executive Council to ensure that all UNISON buildings conform to the Discrimination Disability Act 1995 (DDA) amended regulations relating to disabled access. The union has had five years to update its buildings and we expect UNISON to set an example to […]

Employability

Conference remains concerned that public sector employers do not have substantial and positive strategies for employing people with learning and physically disabilities. There are currently over a million disabled people in the UK who want work but cannot access employment. We are particularly concerned that existing arrangements within the disability benefit and tax credit systems […]

Public Transport

We have serious concerns regarding the commitment of the rail industry towards disabled people. Many stations have no ramps or lifts and platforms are only accessible by bridges across the tracks. When stations are refurbished disabled access on them does not improve either which clearly shows a lack of commitment towards disabled people using the […]

People with HIV

Conference welcomes the government’s response to the report of the joint committee on the draft disability bill with its commitment to extend the Disability Discrimination Act to provide new anti-discrimination measures for people with HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis that will be implemented in December 2005. We are pleased that these disabled people will no […]

Disability Discrimination and Health and Safety at Work

Conference welcomes guidance produced by the European Safety and Health Agency that says that health and safety issues should not be used as an excuse for not employing or not continuing to employ disabled people. Its factsheet adds that a workplace that is accessible and safe for disabled people is also safer and more accessible […]