A Genuinely Inclusive LGBT Group

Conference celebrates the fact we have now been a LGBT Self Organised Group for over two years. We have faced many challenges relating to how we organise and become a truly inclusive group. We have had much success but there is still more work to do to include, involve and organise transgender and bisexual members […]

Local Authority Employee Forums

Conference notes the increase and the development of employee forums for BME, disabled, women and LGBT employees. In principle we welcome this development as an additional opportunity for employees who may face discrimination and prejudice in the workplace to gain support from fellow employees and use the forums to raise with respective HR departments, concerns, […]

Human Rights are Fundamental

Conference notes that: 1.A well-defined Human Rights charter defines the basic principles of a fair, democratic and decent society. In that sense the Human Rights Act has had some success in providing a foundation for greater equality in the United Kingdom. 2.These principles often come under attack from many sources, who find it easy to […]

Human Rights Based Approached to Combating Discrimination

Conference recognises the value of human rights in promoting dignity, equality and protection for all people, especially those who may be vulnerable to abuse of their human rights. Conference also acknowledges the work carried out by the British Institute of Human Rights and the Department of Health in this area and in particular notes the […]

A Truly Representative UNISON National Executive Council

Conference welcomes the change in UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) additional/explicitly named as seats to now be Black Members only seats. Conference believes the UNISON NEC should be as fully representative as possible of the membership of UNISON. Conference welcomes the development of a UNISON wide Equality scheme which will require all parts of the […]

Recruiting and Organising Young LGBT People

This Conference believes it is essential that UNISON does more to organise and recruit young members, and that LGBT members have an important part to play in that work. Conference notes the collaboration between the Scottish LGBT Committee and the Scottish Young Members Committee in their pursuit of the LGBT Youth Scotland Charter Mark. Through […]

Inclusion of Retired Members in Branch and Regional SOG Groups

Following on from the resolutions of our last two conferences urging National Committee to be more proactive concerning retired LGBT members it is still unclear to many exactly how members can remain involved when they retire. Self Organisation is written into UNISON’s rulebook as a real commitment to overcoming barriers and prejudices faced disproportionately by […]

Hate Crime Reporting

Conference welcomes the recent inclusion of homophobic hate crime within England and Wales leading to an aggravated offence and inclusion in hate crime statistics. Conference notes the high prevalence of hate crimes towards LGT communities as well as significant under reporting of such offences, and calls for uniform protection from hate crimes for LGBT people […]

TUC General Council Seats

Conference acknowledges the central importance that the TUC has in UNISON’s work with other British trade unions and the wider international trade union movement. Conference further acknowledges that the TUC has a central role in sharing and promoting best practice amongst affiliates and further notes the central importance of the TUC in promoting equality and […]

Gender Duty

Conference notes the new statutory duty on public sector organisations to proactively promote gender equality in both service delivery and employment. This new duty will come into force in April 2007. Conference believes this presents an opportunity for public bodies to more effectively address the needs of women generally and Black, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender […]

Developing our Caucuses – Stronger Together

Conference is proud of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) self organised group’s long legacy of commitment to increasing participation from LGBT members who have traditionally been and continue to be under represented. Conference celebrates our diversity but recognises that many of our members face multiple discrimination. Conference welcomes the growth of self organisation […]

Save our Pensions!

Conference condemns the attacks by the Labour Government on the Local Government Pension Scheme. While welcoming the pension rights given to LGBT members in terms of the Civil Partnership Legislation; forcing members to work until age 65, and in breach of contractual agreements will mean financial hardship for members, and will erode many of the […]

Monitoring – Doing it Properly, Getting it Right

Conference notes with concern that many employers are embarking on the monitoring of sexual orientation without adequate consultation with trade unions and relevant staff forums. Conference is further concerned that employers are failing to give adequate thought as to how to preserve the confidentiality and anonymity of replies to such monitoring surveys. Conference believes that, […]

Census 2011

Conference notes that the proposal to include sexual orientation in the data collected by the 2011 Census has been considered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), receiving support from the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health. The ONS has however indicated that it is not intending to include sexual orientation in the 2011 […]

On the Need to Deal with a Legacy of (Continuing) Discriminatory Attitudes

Conference notes the very long and extensive reach of a legacy that pervades the whole of our culture and society, with regard to the treatment of LGBT people. Whilst there has been recent progress, including the removal of discriminatory laws, provision for same sex couples and some public bodies that are ready to be supportive […]