Conference notes the Prime Minister’s announcement on 28th September that the government plans to introduce an option for some couples who have married or who have registered civil partnerships to transfer £1,000 of their personal tax allowance from one partner or spouse to the other. This proposal affects UNISON members in all membership categories. As […]
Conference motions
Conference is concerned that the location of the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) and Minister for Disabled People in the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) stigmatises disabled people as workshy, benefit scroungers. It suggests that the only policies that impact on disabled people are those related to benefits, particularly welfare reform. This is not […]
Conference is concerned that the current changes to welfare reform are destroying the lives of disabled people. Disabled people are twice more likely to live in poverty than other citizens, with roughly a third living in poverty at some point in their lives. This is unacceptable and avoidable, but will only get worse with the […]
A few years ago the position of Branch Welfare Officer became a rule book position due to the necessity of that role. With the amendment of Rule D.4.2 carried at National Delegate Conference 2013 we believe the role of the Branch Disability Officer has changed and thus the role will become more pro-active within the […]
The Bradford Factor or Bradford Formula is used in human resource management as a means of measuring worker absenteeism. The formula’s theory is that short, frequent, and unplanned absences are more disruptive than longer absences.Therefore it is more detrimental to disabled employees, especially those who do not declare or identify as disabled or care for […]
Disability hate crime is a criminal offence which is perceived by the victim as action motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability or perceived disability. But disability hate crime is too often overlooked and unreported. Even so more than 1700 disability hate crimes were recorded by police in England and Wales […]
This Conference recognises that in this current political climate the Tory-led Coalition Government is systematically eroding the employment and civil rights of disabled people, it is therefore crucial that UNISON ensures activists are fully equipped with the skills and knowledge to assist them in challenging public service cuts and to deal with discrimination cases being […]
This Conference recognises that the Department for Work and Pensions Access to Work Scheme has been vital to many of our disabled members’ reasonable adjustment needs in public service workplaces. An adequate package of support to meet the cost of adjustments can play a significant part in disabled people’s employability, it can affect career prospects […]
Conference recognises and commends the work that the National Disabled Members Committee has undertaken with regards to Deaf issues However, Conference is concerned that, because of cultural and linguistic issues, prejudice and the workplace environment – it can be more difficult for Deaf members to participate in UNISON’s branch, regional and national democratic processes or […]
Conference welcomes the British Deaf Association (BDA), Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) and the Signature campaign for British Sign Language – Recognition and Beyond Conference notes that BSL has been recognised by Government (since 2003) as an indigenous ’language in its own right, regularly used by a significant number of people’ this was after […]
Conference is very concerned that the Coalition Government’s Budget on 21 March 2013 did nothing to help pensioners who are unable to cope with high winter fuel bills. The Winter Fuel Allowance was reduced in March 2011 by £100 (down from £400 to £300) for the over 80’s households and by £50 (down from £250 […]
Due to the Coalition Government’s twin track to on the one hand selling off as much of the public sector as they can, and on the other hand frantically slashing any services and budgets they still control in order to cut their way out of the recession caused in part by their policies in the […]
This Conference notes that the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) has been the subject of emotive reporting across all media recently. These reports have included allegations that NHS staff are using the LCP to justify prematurely ending the life of older people who are bed blocking and/or costing too much to treat. It has also been […]
Conference believes that as many older people as possible who need care and support should, where practicable, be able to remain in their own homes. Conference believes that both the current and proposed means tested Carer’s Allowance is inadequate and results in many people choosing not to be carers to family or friends because they […]
Conference notes that, in contrast to the rest of the UNISON website, the Retired Members’ page is sparse, seldom revised, badly out of date and has been so for a long time. Conference believes this reflects poorly upon UNISON. Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to seek to have the page maintained to the […]