Promoting Equality in Healthcare Delivery

Conference welcomes the provisions of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 which place a positive duty on all public health bodies to eliminate unlawful discrimination, and promote equality of opportunity and good race relations in all their functions. Conference believes that these provisions should be extended to cover all discrimination grounds to give a legislative […]

Building Strong Branch Organisation – Partnership Working and Staff Involvement

The issue of staff involvement has never been more important. The NHS is undergoing a radical shift in both structure and culture as it moves the balance of power from the centre to the frontline. If we are to succeed in moving decision making to frontline staff, we need to ensure that we have effective […]

NHS Financial Flows

This Conference notes with serious concern the Government’s plans for a new financial framework within the NHS, as outlined in the DOH consultation document, NHS Financial Flows – Introducing Payments By Results. These proposals set out plans to fundamentally change the way that funds flow through the NHS. They will have profound and potentially serious […]

Employer Recognition of Branch Self-Organised Disabled Members’ Groups

The National Disabled Members’ Committee is concerned that employers such as Birmingham City Council do not recognise UNISON’s self-organised groups. As a result members are not allowed paid time off to attend meetings during work time. For the disabled members’ group this makes it difficult for members to get involved and to play an active […]

Lack of Recruitment for Disabled Ethnic Minorities Within the Police Staff

Conference the Black Members’ Caucus wish to raise concerns regarding the lack of recruitment of disabled ethnic minorities within the police staff. Whilst there is a drive to recruit ethnic minorities within the police, there is no focus on targeting disabled ethnic minority staff. Therefore we call upon the National Disabled Members’ Committee to liaise […]

Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation otherwise known as female circumcision is a practice carried out on thousands of women and girls throughout the world annually. This can result in long term problems for disabled black women. Once circumcised a woman will experience ongoing problems with associated infertility, infection and bladder associated problems. We call upon the National […]

Workplace Equality Representatives

By virtue of the fact that we are in this hall today is an example of how our Union supports diversity. Our employers recognise health and safety representatives and provides them with time off/facilities to undertake implementation of the legislation. Given the expanding equalities legislation and the increased diversity within the United Kingdom’s workforce, there […]

Getting Information to Isolated Disabled Lesbian and Gay Members

Conference notes that disabled lesbian and gay members are most vulnerable to discrimination when they are isolated from information, support and advice. Conference is concerned that information on self-organised groups and network days often does not reach isolated members, including disabled lesbian and gay members who are not out in the branch. Conference calls on […]

National Minimum Standards for Care Homes

This Conference is disappointed to note that when announcing the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes, the Health Minister, Alan Milburn, backtracked on some of the initial promises. As a result the National Minimum Standards will now apply guidelines on factors such as room size and single occupancy to new homes only. There will be […]

Pickering Report

In July 2002, a Government appointment review by Alan Pickering, former chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds produced its report A Simpler Way to Better Pensions. This Conference believes that the proposals contained in the Pickering Report will have little impact on the current crisis and do nothing to boost employee confidence in […]

Future Structure of UNISON’s Retired Members’ Organisation

At the Retired Members’ Annual Conference 2001 delegates were informed that a final report on The Retired Members’ Organisaiton would be presented to and debated by conference 2002. To date 4 October 2002, this separate report has not been presented to delegates to the 2002 Conference. This conference therefore instructs the National Retired Members Committee […]

Disabled Access Facilities at Conference Hotels

This Conference is greatly concerned about the lack of disabled access offered to delegates and visitors by the accommodation booking service. For this year’s Disabled Members’ Conference the hotel bookings have not been organised by UNISON’s Conference Office, but have been booked through the Conference Accommodation Booking Service Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board. Bearing […]

Retired Members’ Conference Dates

This Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to negotiate with the Conference Section for all future National Retired Members’ Conferences to be held on Wednesdays, with workshops on Tuesdays.

The Disability Bill

This Conference is disappointed to learn that despite the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to bringing full civil rights for disabled people, the promised Disability Bill is not now to be in the Queen’s speech in the autumn. Lord Ashley at the All-Party Disabled Members’ Group meeting on 9 July 2002 stated that “Implementation of the […]

Registration Fee – Power of Attorney

Conference notes that many pensioners are no longer capable of running their own affairs and that power of attorney is required in most cases. Conference condemns the decision of the Lord Chancellor, taken in July 2002, to increase the fee to register a power of attorney from £50 to £220. Conference calls upon the National […]