Conference notes with alarm the savage reductions in staffing levels of donor collection staff and the closure of processing centres. The reduction of staff in teams has meant consistent understaffing, leading to stress, extended working days with the resultant damage to personal and family life. Whilst UNISON recognises the fall in demand for blood, it […]
Conference motions
Conference notes the report on the progress towards agreeing a new unsocial hours payment scheme for all NHS workers covered by the Agenda for Change agreement. We are concerned that these proposals will leave members in some branches worse off than the interim arrangements – for example ambulance members working a full 24 hour rota. […]
Conference notes that the Improving Working Lives Standard (IWL) was originally designed to serve as a blueprint by which NHS employers and staff in England measured the management of human resources and how organisations were kite-marked against their ability to demonstrate a commitment to improving the working lives of their employees. Conference recognises that genuine […]
Conference welcomes the publication of the Health Select Committee’s report into wave one of the Independent Sector Treatment Centre programme (ISTCs) following the conclusion of its inquiry in July 2006. In particular its conclusions that: 1.ISTCs had not made a major direct contribution to increased capacity 2.ISTCs are not necessarily more efficient than NHS Treatment […]
Conference notes the current trend in government policy towards shifting the balance of health care provision towards primary care and away from acute sector provision. Conference reaffirms its opposition to the continued move towards increasing contestability and fragmentation in the provision of primary care services. Conference believes that this move will lead to a poorer […]
Conference notes the financial difficulties currently facing the NHS and the effect that this is having on staffing levels. Conference expresses its concern that job freezes within the NHS are having a profound effect on the number of jobs available for new graduates in the health professions, including those completing their training in occupational therapy. […]
Conference notes that the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework is a system that defines and describes the knowledge and skills which NHS staff need to apply in their work in order to deliver quality services. It provides a single, consistent, comprehensive and explicit framework on which to base review and development for all staff and […]
Conference welcomes the excellent work of the primary care campaign to date and recognises the importance of the work already underway within UNISON to develop a training programme for stewards in primary care settings. Conference recognises the difficulties involved in recruiting potential members within primary care trusts, which are often dispersed over wide geographical areas, […]
Conference notes the requirements for Equality Schemes and Equality Impact Assessments under the provisions for ‘positive equalities duties’ relating to race, gender and disability. Conference further notes: 1. Recent equality legislation including the Employment Equality Regulations covering sexual orientation and religion or belief; the Civil Partnership Act; the provisions of the Equality Act 2006 banning […]
Conference notes the various Award schemes run by different NHS Employers to reward unbroken long service to its employees. These awards taking the form of vouchers, badges, meals, hampers and certificates presented at certain stages of what that particular employer deems as long service. Whilst this recognises the contribution and efforts of employees who have […]
Conference notes and supports the important historical role the community and voluntary sector has provided in shaping public services – not as an alternative for directly-employed public sector workers, but as an innovator, working with the NHS and campaigning for new ideas and ways of working. Examples include the maternity and midwifery services built up […]
Conference is appalled by the continuing discrimination by employers in the National Health Service towards disabled members when using Sickness Absence policies. Many Employers in both Private and Public Sectors of the NHS carry the two tick logo. Schemes like the ‘Bradford Factor’, where a disabled Members could pick up 1000’s of points with ongoing […]
In September 2006, NHS Logistics showed their solidarity in strength with two one-day strikes, the 1st in the NHS for nearly 20 years. More than 85% were protesting about new labours continuing use of the private sector in the NHS. Unfortunately, NHS Logistics Members now have to work under DHL and a new name “NHS […]
This Conference is concerned about the increasing number of members involved in Blue Light duties who are being subjected to punitive actions by their health service employers when their diabetes status is declared. Branches have reported that neighbouring fire and police authorities are continuing to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act […]
Conference welcomes the initial work on gender identity undertaken by the Department of Health’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG) and the NHS Scotland LGBT Health Inclusion Project. Conference welcomes the increased profile of transgender issues but notes that trans people still face considerable hurdles accessing healthcare and the NHS does not yet […]