Conference notes that 2023 was designated UNISON’s year of Black workers, with the aim of ‘establishing legacy to generate change’. Conference welcomes all the work that has been put into marking the year of Black workers, but notes that there is still a long way to go, particularly in regards to young Black members in […]
Conference motions
Conference notes the success of the National Lesbian, Gay, Trans and Bisexual Plus (LGBT+) Committee’s campaign on trans equality, particularly the trans ally training programme. Over 1,000 UNISON members have now been trained, and trans and non-binary members are being trained to deliver the training and reach even more members. Conference reaffirms our commitment to […]
This conference is deeply concerned by the steep rise in hate crime across the United Kingdom (UK) in the last 5 years. Conference welcomes progress made by UNISON over many years in campaigning and negotiating for equality both in and outside of the workplace. Conference is alarmed by the rapid rise in homophobic, bi-phobic, transphobic, […]
Conference considers that organising workers around a common experience is central to our movement. Prejudice and discrimination are deep-rooted, Members who identify as women, Black, disabled, LGBT+, young and retired members have traditionally been under-represented in democratic structures. Our self-organised groups (SOGs) and National Young Members’ Forum (NYMF) and retired members’ committee are essential to […]
Conference notes that in 2022, the national transgender caucus changed its name to the trans, non-binary and gender diverse network to be more inclusive of all gender identities and expression beyond the gender binary. Conference welcomes this more inclusive name for the network. Conference further notes that our non-binary and gender diverse members make a […]
Conference notes that this is the Year of Black Workers. UNISON has an estimated 185,000 Black members. Racial discrimination and unfairness continue to be an every-day experience for Black people at work, and in wider society. Even within our own union and within the self-organised groups (SOGs) there are barriers to Black members achieving their […]
Conference recalls and celebrates the significant work undertaken over the last thirty years by the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) Committee both within UNISON and in collaboration with national and international partners on the issues affecting LGBT+ asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant workers. Conference notes the “Equality and the UK Asylum process” […]
Conference notes conversion therapy that includes medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to erase, repress or change the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person remains completely permissible under law in the United Kingdom (UK). This is a huge concern. Conference welcomes the motions passed at the 2021 and […]
Conference notes with concern the decision in 2022 by London Pride that the Metropolitan Police could not march at pride in uniform, and the decision in 2023 by Brighton Pride that Kent Police would not be welcome to march this year. However, Conference also notes the Baroness Casey Review into the Metropolitan Police reported “institutional […]
Conference notes that disabled peopled face barriers to employment. 2022 figures show that 53.3% of disabled people were in work compared to 81.9% for non-disabled people. This gives a shocking “disability employment gap” of 28.5%. Although official government figures do not record the employment gap for Deaf native British Sign Language (BSL) users specifically, a […]
Conference notes that prostate can affect more than one in three men over the age of 50. The prostate is a small gland found only in men, trans women, non-binary people who were assigned male at birth and some intersex people, we also note that data shows that African Caribbean people are more likely to […]
Conference believes that Unison needs to be leading the way in helping to resolve the issues that we face as disabled members and making us feel true participants in the workings of our union. Conference notes that: • There are at least 9.8m people with a disability in the UK (source: ONS) • Around 21% […]
This National Disabled Conference notes with concern that the process of applying for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) continues to be long, arduous and stressful with an unacceptably large number of disabled people still being refused benefit through the PIP process. Conference is further concerned that the staff employed to undertake assessments frequently have little knowledge […]
Disabled people including our Disabled Members could find themselves losing their Personal Independence Payments (PIP) if they go abroad for a holiday, for work or even to visit family. Current government guidance says PIP claimants need to inform the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) if they’re planning to travel abroad for 28 days or […]
Conference notes that a disproportionate number of disabled people have to attend hospital for appointments and treatments. Why, then is hospital equipment not adequate for use by disabled people? For example, for many disabled people with mobility issues trolleys and examination tables do not go low enough and eye testing equipment is often impossible to […]