The Role of School Support Staff

This meeting notes with great concern the so-called ‘historic deal’ reached between the Government, the teachers unions (with the exception of the N U T), and UNISON, the T & G W U and the G M B. The agreement is aimed at reducing teacher workloads to enable them to have a guarantee of up […]

2002 Pay Campaign

This Conference applauds the action of UNISON members in local government in both organising and delivering effective strike action in such overwhelming numbers on 17 July 2002 in pursuit of the local government pay claim. However, this Conference expresses intense concern about the decision by the Trade Union Side of the National Joint Council (endorsed […]

Equality in Employment Regulations – Implementation Issues

Conference notes that in October 2002 the Government published draft regulations required by the European Union Employment Directive which will outlaw workplace discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and of religion and belief from December 2003. Conference further notes that the Employers Organisation has published a brief guide to the main provisions of the […]

Consultation Arrangements on the Procedure for the Suspension of Industrial Action During National Pay Disputes

This Conference instructs the National Service Group to draw up a consultation document on the issue of the circumstances under which a National Sector Committee is able to suspend industrial action in response to an improved offer. The consultation document to set out current policy and invite comments and amendments from regions, branches, national sector […]

PFI Contracts

Conference is well aware of the Best Value regime and its rigorous requirements to Compare, Contrast, Compete and Consult. Conference is also aware of the number of contracts and services which have been externalised, outsourced or relocated. Let’s be honest they have been privatised. However, the rigorous examination ends when the privateers get their hands […]

Arms Length Management Organisation for Council Housing

This Conference notes with alarm the speed at which Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) have been pushed through by central Government. John Prescott’s office has been pushing ahead with ALMOs despite the fact that: 1)Financially, start up costs have been massive 2)They have expanded the amount of highly paid Managers while effects on employment contracts […]

Funding Fair Pay in Local Government

Local Government Conference notes that whilst both Central and the Welsh Assembly Governments have stated that they wish to see a fair and transparent pay and grading system in local government they have failed to take the opportunities, presented by recent amendments to local government finance, to passport money through to local authorities who are […]

Frozen Holiday Pay

This Conference notes with concern that unknown thousands of UNISON’s lowest paid members including catering assistants, cleaners, care workers and gardeners who work for local authorities and in the private sector (because of outsourcing) are still owed varying amounts of leave entitlement which was placed in suspension over twenty years ago. Conference is also concerned […]

Single Status

This Conference notes the continuing debacle whereby the majority of Council’s have failed to implement Single Status: 1)That Job Evaluations under the National or London Schemes have not been carried out. Our members continue to be paid with out of date grades and job descriptions. That there is no prospect of equal pay issues, particularly […]

Implementing the Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Conference welcomes the Race Relations (Amendment) Act which places greater duty and responsibility on public sector bodies to end discriminatory practices in employment, eliminate racial discrimination and promote race equality. Furthermore, Conference welcomes the commitment to developing codes of practice for relevant public bodies. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act through the Commission for Racial Equality’s […]

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill

Conference deplores the fact that during the Labour Government’s second term of office, asylum and immigration legislation remains oppressive and racially discriminatory. This Conference further condemns the Labour Government’s proposal in the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Bill that proposes to withdraw the right of appeal from asylum seekers in this country. Conference applauds the work […]

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Conference welcomes the introduction of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, but believes if it is to provide a framework to improve race equality in public services then UNISON nationally should be preparing regions and branches to face the challenges ahead by ensuring the Stephen Lawrence Report is acted upon by responding to the MacPherson […]

Publicity for Black Members’ Conference

Conference notes that this is the tenth Conference that the National Black Members’ Committee has held but there has never been any occasion where the mass media – press, local and national newspapers and television – have given publicity to the National Black Members’ Conference, especially on the first day of Conference by interviewing key […]

Support the European Social Forum

Conference welcomes the organisation of a European Social Forum (ESF) in Italy in November 2002. We believe the ESF will be a unique chance for anti-racist activists and trade unionists from across Europe to come together and discuss how to organise against free market policies and Bush and Blair’s war. We support the Call of […]

The Infiltration of the British National Party (BNP) into the Political Landscape

The issue of race is sensitive now as at anytime in the 25 years of the Commission for Racial Equality’s existence. The far right is on the rise across Europe and, in this country, the BNP has gained a foothold in local government and this is very disturbing. There have been race riots in several […]