Conference notes the new statutory duty on public sector organisations to proactively promote gender equality in both service delivery and employment. This new duty will come into force in April 2007. Conference believes this presents an opportunity for public bodies to more effectively address the needs of women generally and Black, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender […]
Conference motions
Conference is proud of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) self organised group’s long legacy of commitment to increasing participation from LGBT members who have traditionally been and continue to be under represented. Conference celebrates our diversity but recognises that many of our members face multiple discrimination. Conference welcomes the growth of self organisation […]
Conference notes the recently introduced General Social Care Council Register, which includes the town in which a person works and is available via the world wide web to any member of the public. Conference is concerned that this may particularly problematic for Social Care staff who may have worked in service areas where threats of […]
Conference acknowledges the central importance that the TUC has in UNISON’s work with other British trade unions and the wider international trade union movement. Conference further acknowledges that the TUC has a central role in sharing and promoting best practice amongst affiliates and further notes the central importance of the TUC in promoting equality and […]
Conference condemns the attacks by the Labour Government on the Local Government Pension Scheme. While welcoming the pension rights given to LGBT members in terms of the Civil Partnership Legislation; forcing members to work until age 65, and in breach of contractual agreements will mean financial hardship for members, and will erode many of the […]
Conference notes that the proposal to include sexual orientation in the data collected by the 2011 Census has been considered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), receiving support from the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health. The ONS has however indicated that it is not intending to include sexual orientation in the 2011 […]
Conference notes with concern that many employers are embarking on the monitoring of sexual orientation without adequate consultation with trade unions and relevant staff forums. Conference is further concerned that employers are failing to give adequate thought as to how to preserve the confidentiality and anonymity of replies to such monitoring surveys. Conference believes that, […]
Conference notes the very long and extensive reach of a legacy that pervades the whole of our culture and society, with regard to the treatment of LGBT people. Whilst there has been recent progress, including the removal of discriminatory laws, provision for same sex couples and some public bodies that are ready to be supportive […]
The media constantly portrays domestic violence as a heterosexual experience. Literature uses male pronouns to describe batterers and female pronouns to describe victims. The terms ‘domestic violence’ and ‘violence against women’ have become interchangeable. As a result, people who interact with victims frequently are unaware of the existence of domestic violence in the LGBT community. […]
While over 500,000 people attended the various events and over 50,000 marching for Europride in London last June, events throughout major European cities have not met such an enthusiastic welcome. With reference to the Pride march in Riga Latvia on Saturday, July 22 the meeting at the city council refused permissions for the march to […]
Conference notes that Buckinghamshire is a rural county predominantly made up of small communities and that workers in public services often find themselves in situations where they are forced to disclose their sexual orientation to clients because both live in the same locality. When confronted with this problem it is often the response of supervisors […]
Conference is concerned about the hostile receptions that various Pride events have received in Europe and across the world. Events organised in Warsaw, Moscow and Riga, amongst others, have been met with violence and homophobia Pride events have also been hindered, banned or experienced violent protests in other cities such as Belgrade, Chisinau, Bucharest, Zagreb, […]
In 2003 Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 was repealed. The Act stated that a local authority “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”. Although national legislation has […]
Trades unionism is all about organising workers around a common experience. Traditionally, this included employer, occupation and geography but it has come to include shared experience of prejudice and discrimination. These are deep-rooted in society and women workers, black workers, disabled workers and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) workers have often been under-represented or […]
Conference notes with alarm: 1.The British National Party’s (BNP) advance in the English local elections of May 2006; 2.The BNP’s electoral success and media attention in May has encouraged it to contest local government by-elections even more widely than before; and 3.The BNP Council Manifesto, its official monthly magazine and other media and spokespeople have […]