Effective Training and Support for Discipline Stewards in the Police Service

‘Our members who find themselves the subject of Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigations deserve the best representation possible. The training provided by UNISON is sufficient for the provision of basic skills for the purposes of representation in a discipline process. For Staff who may find themselves the subject of a Professional Standards Interview where […]

Privatisation and Outsourcing of Police Staff Roles

Conference is asked to show its support to our colleagues who are losing status and jobs, and who are having their terms and conditions undermined and removed by privatisation and collaboration, and requests leadership, advice and guidance from the Service Group Executive. By working together we can protect jobs and the service to the community. […]

Arrangements for the new Service Group

Conference welcomes Probation and Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCAS) members into the Service Group and hopes they will enjoy similar success to that of Police Staff. Now that Police staff will be Sector based and not a Service Group in our own right, it is it important to ensure that any outstanding […]

No to Privatisation, No to Outsourcing of our Jobs:

Conference is extremely concerned that our employers (Police Authorities) are using buzz words such as ‘Partnership and Shared Services` to hide their true intentions of creeping privatisation and outsourcing. We welcome the Briefing for police branches on the “South West One” shared services outsourcing project involving Avon & Somerset Police. Were in the midst of […]

Health & Safety of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s)

Conference is concerned that our PCSO members are increasingly being used to fill gaps in front line policing. As a result of this, they are deployed to confrontational situations, and because they are not equipped accordingly, they face ever increasing risks to their health and safety. it is evident that our members are being directed […]

Sickness Absence

This conference is concerned that a two tier sickness absence policy is being operated within the Police Service. Time and time again, police officers enjoy terms and conditions that are far superior to those of police support staff. The Home Office is always telling the general public that all staff within the Police Service are […]

Equipping Staff with Skills

Conference notes that there is a distinct lack of training for Police Staff in operational roles within Police Forces across the country. New staff often have no formal training and are expected to shadow a more experienced staff member until the trainer feels the trainee is competent. No nationally agreed training manuals are available and […]

Improving self organisation in Police Staff Branches

Conference believes that equality is fundamental and that women, black, disabled, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and young members may face particular barriers in the workplace and in getting involved in the union. Indeed many members may face multiple barriers. Conference notes that the police service has had problems in achieving Government recruitment targets […]

Campaign to Keep the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Conference notes that Eric Pickles, former Shadow Local Government Minister and David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, have both publicly stated that a Conservative Government would end the final salary LGPS. Furthermore, discussions about setting an inferior Defined Contribution Scheme to replace the LGPS have taken place across political groupings within the Local Government […]

Future of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

Conference condemns the remarks of Shadow Home Secretary Christopher Grayling on the future of PCSOs under a Conservative Government. In an interview given to the Yorkshire Post, published on 5 May 2009, Mr Grayling said: “Doing away with PCSOs is something I’m looking at the moment. I’m minded to say that decisions about their futures […]

Housing

Conference notes that the commodification of housing has led to the present housing crisis. Conference believes in a decent home as the building block for a decent life, enabling us to: 1)Bring up children in a secure and stable environment, providing life chances and educational opportunities; 2)Provide shelter, warmth, space and privacy as the pre-requisite […]

Welfare Safety Net

Conference believes that the importance of public services is being seen in this recession as public authorities deal with rising unemployment and social need across the UK. However the welfare safety net has been cut back repeatedly over the last 30 years and benefit levels, particularly Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), are set far below any […]

CUBA

In this the 50th anniversary year of the Cuban revolution UNISON salutes the people of Cuba and their achievements. UNISON commends the impressive advances that have been made in the fields of health care, education, sustainable development and many others. These advances put Cuba amongst the top rank of nations in terms of human development […]

New Challenges for the NHS

Conference congratulates health workers on their hard work, which coupled with increased government funding, has brought about a continuous improvement in the services that patients can expect from the NHS. Waiting times have been reduced to a maximum of 18 weeks from referral to treatment in England, with waiting lists at an all-time low across […]

Public Services

Conference believes that the current recession, caused by the greed and irresponsibility of speculators in the City, demonstrates once again the fundamental importance of public services. Public service workers around the country are on the front line of protecting individuals and communities from the ravages of market forces. In every single service UNISON members must […]