No cuts, no fees: public services into public ownership

Conference notes that, while the public sector proper was excluded from the increase in employers’ National Insurance announced on 31 October, this has placed significant financial pressures on private and third sector bodies delivering public services, such as universities and community organisations. Organisations like these both employ young workers and provide services young workers rely […]

Support Staff and Students, Against the Tuition Fee Increase

Conference Notes That: 1 The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, has announced that tuition fees for higher education in England will be increased by 3.1% for the next academic year, for new and continuing students. 2 This will bring full-time fees up to £9,535, and part-time fees up to £7,145. 3 This is […]

Young workers need affordable public transport: opposing the rise in the bus fare cap

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 workers in public services, buses are essential as a cheap, convenient and environmentally friendly […]

Challenging Far-Right Populism

This Conference condemns the violent protests called in early August by far-right and fascist groups following the tragic events in Southport where three children were killed and more were injured. They have sought to exploit this tragedy with lies and disinformation especially about migrant workers, refugees, Muslims and Black workers, leading to multiple instances of […]

Ceasefire Now- Justice for Palestine and the Existential Threat of Further Escalation in the Middle East

This conference notes: 1. On 01October 2024 Israel launched a major bombardment and ground invasion of Lebanon, causing thousands of deaths, and around one million people to be displaced. 2. On 26October 2024, Israel launched airstrikes on Syria, Iraq, and Iran. This conference further notes: 3. Israel’s war is an assault on young people and […]

Social Care Cap

This Conference notes with dismay this Government’s decision to postpone the Social Care Cost Cap, due to be introduced in October 2025, despite its manifesto commitments towards social care. This would have set a cap on personal care costs of £86,000 but no funding had been allocated. The huge cost of social care for many […]

Winter Fuel Allowance

Whilst UNISON is generally supportive of the Labour Government, this Conference notes its shock decision that only those in receipt of Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits will qualify for the Winter Fuel Allowance. It is estimated that 10 million pensioners in England alone will lose their right to this annual payment from this autumn […]

Don’t take our Winter Fuel Allowance away!

This UNISON Retired Members Conference expresses its concern at the announcement at the end of July 2024, by the Labour Government, that those State Pensioners not entitled to Benefits will no longer get the Winter Fuel Allowance. Many State Pensioners who are members of UNISON, particularly those that gave a lifetime working in low paid […]

ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, & RETENTION OF APPRENTICES

Conference notes that the engagement and retention of Young Members can be challenging. However, engaging with young apprentices can often present attentional challenges, with there often being little to no education on what a Union is, while also feeling that their employment is tentative. Despite the fact there are approximately 135,000 Young Members in UNISON, […]

Organising young workers

Conference notes that Motion 3 “Organising and Training to Win Ballots and Disputes” from the National Young Members’ Forum (NYMF) was resoundingly passed by National Delegate Conference (NDC) 2024, instructing the National Executive Council (NEC) to continue implementing the ‘Organising to Win’ strategy with young members as a priority and to work with the NYMF […]

Recruiting, Educating and Training Young Activists to Ensure UNISONs Future

Conference notes the successes of the Organising to Win strategy in increasing recruitment and retention. Conference also welcomes that in 2023, UNISON saw net membership growth, particularly in the strategic campaigns prioritised by Organising to Win. Conference notes that of 2023’s new joiners 15% were young members, up from 13% of new joiners in 2022. […]

Celebrating the Year of LGBT+ Workers and continuing the fight for LGBT+ rights

Conference notes the success of UNISON’s year of LGBT+ workers in 2024. Throughout the year, both the contributions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) people to the trade union movement and the exceptional work of UNISON to support its LGBT+ members have rightly been championed. Conference particularly welcomes the continued growth of the […]

Building young organisers in UNISON by engaging in youth movements

Conference notes as part of our Organising to Win strategy, students and apprentices are being prioritised for recruitment and retention in our union, which stands to benefit UNISON, our young members and our trade union movement. We have seen recruitment and organising success with student movements from UNISON branches supporting those causes, such as University […]

A Young Members’ Stand Against Public Service Cuts

Conference notes the effects that cuts to our public services are having on Young People. Youth services have been slashed over the last 14 years; there is a rise in poor mental health amongst young people – with one in three people aged 18-24 now having symptoms of a mental health disorder – whilst our […]

Reviewing Redundancy Policies within Local Government

Conference notes the ongoing and impending budget cuts within local government across the UK, recognising that, as of September 2023, 86% of UK councils anticipated a budget gap, with a national cumulative deficit of £7 billion by 2025/26. At present, many employers are committed to a policy of no mandatory redundancies and favour service cuts […]