TRANSPHOBIA HARMS CHILDREN TOO

Conference notes with concern the negative impact that transphobic bullying and restrictive gender stereotypes can have upon children of all ages who: 1.Self-identify as transgender; 2.Self-identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual; 3.Appear to be gender variant in any way (often labelled as ‘tomboy’, sissy’, ‘butch’ or ‘camp’); 4.Have a parent or other family member who […]

EQUALITY IS FUNDAMENTAL

Conference believes that equality is fundamental and that members represented by our self-organised groups and young members organisation may face particular barriers in the workplace and in getting involved and active in our union. Indeed many members face multiple barriers. Conference notes that the introduction of the public sector equality duties has seen some improvements […]

EQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) PEOPLE

Conference welcomes recent legislation aimed at ensuring more equal access to goods facilities and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people – especially as this also means more equal access to healthcare provision. But these are only recent legislative changes, and many reports highlight the entrenched disparities in the provision of health services for […]

ENSURING NON-DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE PROVISION

This conference notes with regret the decision of the Employment Tribunal in the case of Ms L Ladele v London Borough of Islington (2203694/2007 July 2008). Ms Ladele, a Registrar in Islington, refused to officiate at Civil Partnership ceremonies on the grounds of her expressed Christian belief. The Tribunal found that she could not reconcile […]

NON-DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLICLY FUNDED SERVICES

Conference notes that some high profile media coverage of a 2008 employment tribunal judgment suggested that civil registrars were not obliged to carry out civil partnership ceremonies if that contravened their religious beliefs. The Tribunal found in favour of an Islington Registrar who refused to officiate at Civil Partnership ceremonies on the grounds of her […]

HUMAN RIGHTS AND ELDER ABUSE IN CARE HOMES

The human rights now enshrined in legislation should affirm the equal dignity and worth, to which we are all entitled, but the human rights of our sector of society are daily and routinely violated and this needs to be stopped. Elder abuse is a shameful by-product of age discrimination and as such is totally unacceptable. […]

A NATIONWIDE CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL SCHEME

Conference will be aware that the Concessionary Bus Travel Act (CBT) 2007 came into force on 1 April 2008. The Act provides free, off-peak travel (valid between 9.30am-11pm weekdays and at all times on weekends and Bank Holidays) for pensioners and disabled people in England. This has been welcomed by pensioners but there have been […]

FUEL POVERTY

In the March 2008 Budget, Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, did not totally ignore the plight of pensioners and increased the fuel allowance by £50 to £250, a one-off payment to be paid in the autumn. But the Budget has once again failed to deliver on the eradication of pensioner poverty. Because of rapidly […]

THE CENTENARY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE STATE PENSION 1909 TO 2009 – THE NEED TO STILL IMPROVE STATE PENSION PROVISION

Conference notes the work that was undertaken by UNISON to mark the centenary of the May 1908 Old Age Pensions Act. This highlighted the proud role that trade unions played in the struggle to establish the older generation’s right to an adequate income and dignity in their later years. As a result of the Act, […]

Equality is Fundamental

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 face multiple barriers. Conference notes that the introduction of the public equality duties has seen some improvements in […]

Making rights real

Conference welcomes the Human Rights Inquiry being undertaken by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The inquiry will: 1.Assess progress towards the effectiveness and enjoyment of a culture of respect for human rights in Great Britain; and 2.Consider how the current human rights framework might best be developed and used to realise the vision of […]

Equal Marriage Law

This Conference welcomes the recent introduction of Civil Partnerships for same sex couples. Conference believes, however, that current provision is not entirely satisfactory as same sex couples who may wish to marry are prevented from doing so and opposite sex couples are barred from entering Civil Partnerships. In addition, where a person seeks to obtain […]

Support for ILGA Scholarship Programme

In a number of countries around the world, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people struggle to be visible in civil society or gain recognition for their rights within the framework of human rights legislation. Trade unionists and community activists have for a long time recognised the importance of solidarity in the establishment and protection […]

Quotas are not enough

Conference notes that UNISON has shown its commitment to equality for Black members – and to Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) members – through reserved seats on the National Executive Council, National LGBT Committee and other national self-organised group committees, and through the requirement for fair representation in conference delegations and all union […]

Hidden from hate

Conference notes that people living with HIV and AIDS are considered disabled from the point of diagnosis under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005. However, Conference is disappointed to note that the Ministry of Justice did not accept an amendment to section 146 of the Criminal Justice Act to give people living with HIV the […]