Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Claims

This conference agrees that 6 months or longer is too long to wait for the outcome of a PIP assessment. This has caused tragic incidents and severe hardship to families. We call on the National Disabled Members Committee to work with Labour Link and relevant organisations to: 1)lobby the Government to implement a maximum timescale […]

Disabled People’s Manifesto

Conference the general election will be held on 7 May 2015. This is the first time we have known so far in advance the exact date of the general election and this gives us the opportunity to campaign for disabled peoples issues to be central to all election campaigns. When the Police and Crime Commissioner […]

Disabled Women and Food banks

Conference is concerned to hear that disabled people many disabled women hit by changes to the benefits system are having to rely on food banks, a survey of nearly 4000 disabled people carried out by the Disability Benefits Consortium reveals that of those hit by changes to housing benefit – such as the bedroom tax […]

Enough is Enough – Earn my Vote

This Conference has grave concerns about the impact of this government’s policies on disabled peopleand we agree that as disabled activists in this union we need to send this strong message out to all political parties in the run up to next year’s election that enough is enough. Conference notes with concern the impact of […]

Black people and Disability – The impact of Welfare reform and benefit cuts

Many disabled workers are reliant on benefits even though they are working. Conference condemns the Coalitions Governments Welfare Reforms and the resulting adverse impact of the policies on our members, especially our Black disabled members and their communities. Many of our disabled Black members are low-paid and due to poverty wages, pay freezes and unwavering […]

Disabled Women and Access to Work

Conference is concerned to learn that disabled people are being expected to take considerable responsibility for part funding the cost of their reasonable adjustments that have been approved by and provided through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Access to Work Scheme (ATW). Self funding has an immediate and devastating impact on future work […]

What we want from a Labour Government

Conference will note that the austerity measures introduced by the ConDem government have had a disproportionate effect on disabled people. Benefits have been slashed and the work capability assessor has treated disabled people with callousness and inhumanity. Therefore the removal of the ConDem government has to be a priority for disabled people in the next […]

Disabled members taking a lead on recruitment

Conference will note that recruitment of new members is a priority for our union and one which we all need to proactively engage in. However conference will note that recruitment campaigns do not automatically ask activists with disabilities to take a lead on recruitment nor do these campaigns specifically target workers with disabilities. Conference will […]

GOVERNMENT WELFARE REFORMS AND CREDIT UNIONS

We condemn the Government’s Welfare Reforms and the resulting impact of the policies on our members. Many members are reliant on welfare due to poverty wages, pay freezes and cuts to their terms and conditions. This has driven many into the arms of loan sharks and payday loan companies. Millions of disabled workers are reliant […]

Fair Representation for Disabled Members in UNISON

This conference is concerned about the level of discrimination currently faced by disabled people. Cuts to public services, welfare reform, changes to health and social care, reductions in disabled students allowances and bedroom tax have all targeted disabled people. To fight this campaign against disabled people disabled people need to be politically and societally active. […]

MALE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Male Violence against Women (26 26.1, 30, 31) Conference welcomes the decision by UNISON National Delegate Conference 2013, in passing Motion 8, to encourage women’s activism in our trade union. We recognise that this particular effort is necessary because, in a sexist society, women face particular obstacles to participation in all areas of life, including […]

CEDAW

CEDAW (19 19.1,20) In July 2013 the UK Government was called to give evidence to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This requirement to give evidence happens every three years. Women’s organisations came together to produce a shadow report – that was given in evidence to CEDAW. The […]

Social Work Profession Motion

Conference notes that social work is a profession dominated by women. Social work is a gendered activity, in terms of both its workforce and client group and it is well documented that more women than men enter this area of work (‘Gender at Work: Characteristics of ‘Failing’ Social Work Students’. Sheila Furness. Division of Social […]

No age restrictions for cervical cancer screenings

No Age Restrictions for Cervical Cancer Screening 10 years ago the age for Cervical Cancer screening rose from 20 to 25 in England followed by Northern Ireland in 2011, Wales in 2013 and Scotland due to rise in 2014. Cervical Cancer screening is available for all women aged between 25 & 65. Government guidelines state […]

Local Housing Allowance – Shared Accommodation rate

This conference believes that the Government’s decision to raise the Local Housing Allowance shared accommodation rate to 35 year olds was not subject to equality impact testing. It is well documented that women earn less than men and therefore find it harder to afford private sector rents. With the changes to eligibility for the 1 […]