This conference wishes to express its extreme concern over the way in which mental health nurse training is currently organised. In many parts of the country student mental health nurses have to go through a core foundation year. This leaves them only two years to develop the skills and gain the experience and confidence they […]
Conference motions
This conference recognises that there is evidence that shows working rotating shifts, alternating and night shifts has an adverse affect on the physical, mental and social well-being of employees. Within the NHS there are many thousands of employees working these shifts and this number is rising. Conference realises that fatigue, sleeping difficulties, digestive problems, sleeping […]
Public services can be seen as one of the last bastions of a socially collective and cohesive society; yet our Health, Education, Housing, Transport and Utilities Services are now subject to the volatility of market forces. Our Health Service was in the vanguard of public/private partnerships (PP’s) as set out under a Tory Government over […]
Conference is pleased to note that progress made by UNISON’s Blood Service Forum is implementing its union development plans for 2003/4 and 2004/5. In particular, Conference welcomes the increase number of UNISON’s Blood Branches that have given an improved voice for union members when dealing with the employer and also within UNISON. Conference notes that […]
Many of us have fought for years for equality in all areas. We have had some successes, including some excellent employment laws. However, these laws can sometimes be used against us and when they are there is very little in the way of information and support. Many of our members work alone with another female/male […]
Conference welcomes the work carried out by the Health Group on issues affecting lesbians and gay men but believes that bisexual and transgender issues have not received sufficient prominence. Conference notes, for example, that transgender health workers face particular pressures, especially when working in clinical environments (in both clinical and non-clinical posts). Conference acknowledges therefore […]
This Regional Health Committee calls for a review of SGE reporting and communications with a view to improving information available to branches.
Conference is concerned to learn that Private Finance Initiative employers are not included in Agenda for Change. It is well known that in many trusts a high proportion of Black and Ethnic Minority workers are employed in the PFI sector. Research has also highlighted that Black and Ethnic Minority workers are amongst the highest number […]
Conference notes that despite the Race Relations (Amendment) Act (RRAA) and introduction of race equality schemes, employers are continuing to drag their heels and do little to implement positive action. The publication of league tables is still not transparent, in that the majority of employers are not publicising the results. The Department of Health has […]
Conference is pleased to note the success of the work to create a learning culture in health branches carried out with support from Union Learning Funded projects across UNISON. To date since 2002 well over 750 learning advisers and reps* working in xx branches+ have been trained. Pilot branches in each region are trialling training […]
Conference notes the initiatives being pursued by the various health departments to address recruitment and retention of staff, specifically around flexible working and other initiatives to enable staff to achieve a better work-life balance. UNISON has campaigned long and hard to address these issues on behalf of members and the timing of key initiatives such […]
More action from both the government and employers is needed to help families balance work and caring responsibilities. the UK has an ageing population, a falling birth rate and increasing family breakdown. These factors, aswell as lesser mobility, leads to a loss of family networks for many. This means that more often women are simultaneously […]
Conference notes that women earn on average 82p for every £1 men earn. That part-time women workers earn 41p for every £1 full time men earn. That women are often segregated into the lowest paid, lowest status, jobs. Conference notes that the gender pay gap and workplace segregation can be attributed in part to the […]
UNISON members have continuously raised this issue, stating that the current position on part-time workers owing or gaining time off due to pro rata bank holidays is intolerable. As the situation stands, those part-time workers who work the beginning of the week are treated less favourably than those who work the latter, this is especially […]
According to UNISON figures, almost a quarter of UNISON reps are not given paid time off and a further fifth only receive one hour or less a week. It is likely that women activists bear the brunt of inadequate facility time because: 1)most facility time agreements are old and have not been adjusted to reflect […]