Independent Sector Treatment Centres

Conference expresses its concern at the increasing fragmentation of the NHS and in particular the extended role of the private providers and the Independent Sector Treatment Centre (ISTC) programme. Despite constant referrals from this government to extending patient choice and reducing waiting lists, the ISTC programme in wave one has proved divisive, offered poor value […]

Tackling Violence Towards NHS Staff

This Conference affirms that violence and aggression toward NHS staff is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Recent statistics show that the level of violence is worryingly high. All too familiar are the shocking reports we hear from nurses, paramedics and other health workers that they have been assaulted, punched, kicked, spat at and […]

Maternity Rights for Students

This conference congratulates trainee midwives Clare Fletcher and Tracey Parkes as women trailblazers who decided to stand up and be counted in order to win improvements in maternity rights that will benefit many others. This conference also applauds UNISON for its committed support of their case, and its determination to follow it through with high-profile […]

Health and the Community & Voluntary Sector

Conference notes 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. In the last five years, since the 2000 National Delegate Conference […]

Pensions

Conference notes that a major achievement of the Pensions Review was the removal of discrimination against unmarried same sex partners and addressing past injustices such as post retirement marriage. The deeply unpopular raising of normal pension age to 65 (NPA65) which was detailed which was detailed in the Review Document predicted the financial package as […]

Hospital Cleaning/infection/MRSA

Since the contracting out of Cleaning/Domestic Services/Housekeeping/Facilities to PFI this conference notes the extent of media coverage into Hospital Acquired Infections/MRSA. Television documentaries and newspapers have reported widely on the problems associated with MRSA and bed shortages, excessive movement of patients, rapid throughput and high levels of bed occupancy to meet performance targets, lack of […]

Agenda for Change and Black Workers

Conference notes that with Agenda for Change now implemented it will have a profound effect on low-paid black workers. Black workers already represent a high proportion of the low paid sector. With Agenda for Change and the implementation of the Knowledge and Skills Framework, many black members are likely to be disadvantaged in being able […]

Race Equality Schemes

Conference notes the lack of implementation regarding Race Equality Schemes. Since 31 May 2005 organisations had to be compliant. Unfortunately little is being done to assess organistions to assess whether they are compliant or not. 1. We call upon the NBMC/NEC to liase with a) Service groups to monitor what is happening in branches; b) […]

Fair Representation and Proportionality

Conference remains concerned about the lack of uniformity from Regions and Branches in implementing Rule 1.4 of the rulebook. Conference also notes that UNISON has anti-discrimination policies which state that the principles of proportionality and fair representation shall be adhered to in the election of delegates and representatives. However, despite UNISON rules and anti-discrimination policies […]

Mapping of Black Members

Conference notes that successive reports commissioned by the TUC and government’s own statistics that confirm that Black workers continue to be concentrated in the lowest paid jobs. Conference further notes the increase in attacks against the Black communities following the tragic London bombing in July 05 and the BNP for its attempt to exploit the […]

Paid Black Officers

Conference is appalled at the lack of implementation of motion 202 passed at the 1997 national delegate conference despite opposition from the NEC. This motion called for paid black officers to be available in all regions in a similar way to the availability of Women’s Officers. Members note that despite the implementation of this motion […]

Progress of Black members issues in UNISON

Black members remain increasingly concerned that certain repeat issues brought to National Black Members Conference for the NBMC and NEC to action on our behalf, remain unactioned. Members need only look at the range of repeat motions brought to conference to see that the repeat nature of the motions implies that Black members do not […]

Lack of Visibility of Black Members: Attendace at UNISON’s Conferences

The North West Regional Black Members’ Group are concerned at the low and decreasing numbers of Black Members attending UNISON’s Conferences. It was noted in 2005 that the numbers of Black Members who attended; Women’s’ Conference, Health Conference, Local Government Conference, National Delegate Conference and all the Service Group Conferences held this year was significantly […]

Support for Members’ personal developments with the Health Service on knowledge and skills framework

Conference welcomes the provisions initiated by the government in introducing Knowledge and Skills Framework in the Health service. We consider the KSF provisions would provide opportunities for black member working at lower level within the NHS to develop their learning skills and career development within the Health Service. We call upon the National Black Members’ […]

Citizenship Rights

This Conference deplores the fact that children born in this country can be denied citizenship rights depending upon the nationality of their parents. We note that this disgraceful discrimination on grounds of nationality disproportionately disadvantages black and ethnic minority people and that an increasing number of young people have, for example, difficulty in obtaining passport […]