Conference is concerned by attempts by the current government to foster a progressive image on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, while carrying out an unprecedented attack on the rights of LGBT workers and provision for LGBT service users. Conference notes that the devastating impact of this Government’s public sector cuts on women, Black […]
Conference motions
Conference celebrates how self organisation is fundamental and central to the structures and function of UNISON since the creation of the union. However, each year only a small number of branches send members to self organised group (SOG) conferences. A recent survey found that the majority of the 92 branches in the South West region […]
Conference applauds the National LGBT Committee’s work on human rights which has greatly improved the understanding of human rights based approaches to the delivery of public services within the mainstream union membership as well as amongst LGBT members. Conference welcomes the previous government’s signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons […]
Conference notes that whilst National Delegate Conference did not debate Motion 9, which called for a review of self organisation, the National Executive Council (NEC) has included this in their work programme and set up a working party of members of the NEC’s Development and Organisation Committee and chairs (or their nominees) of the national […]
This Conference is deeply concerned at the coalition government’s announcement on Friday 13th August of its decision to axe the Audit Commission. The Commission has played an important role in promoting the employment rights and public service provision to disabled people by those public authorities that are covered by the Disability Equality Duty. Our greatest […]
This conference is gravely concerned about reports on 10 August 2010 that government intends to use credit rating firms to target disabled people claiming benefits by using intelligence about what disabled people choose to spend their benefit on. We see this latest attack as another bounty hunter initiative that could cost billions of pounds to […]
The introduction of the Human Fertilization and Embryology (HFE) bill in 2008 removed the requirement on staff working in fertility clinics to consider the need for a father and replaced it with the need for supportive parenting when considering eligibility for treatment. This seemingly opened the door for lesbian and bisexual women to access publicly […]
Most of us take it for granted that we can organise and meet to discuss work problems, engage in political debate and challenge poor employer practices. Trade unionists in many other countries risk intimidation and even death for active membership in a union. This is all the more dangerous for our LGBT brothers and sisters, […]
Conference, we deplore the unprecedented cuts in our vital public services and lament the shocking disregard for the compliance to the hard won advances in the Equalities agenda. Whilst the public sector duties apply primarily to public bodies they also have implications for private and voluntary sector organisations who deliver services on behalf of public […]
This Conference celebrates how the trade union movement is working towards LGBT equality all over the world. Over recent years this has included: 1.Raising issues of sexual orientation and gender identity/gender expression discrimination in the International Labour Organisation; 2.Supporting the work of ILGA and ILGA-Europe; 3.Protesting against laws and proposed laws against LGBT people; 4.Campaigning […]
Conference notes that this year’s National Delegate Conference carried motion 117 “Demand Change!”, submitted by National Women’s Conference. The resolution endorses the “Demand Change!” campaign by calling for the government to apply the ‘Nordic model’ to tackle prostitution. This model decriminalises those who sell sex acts and supports them to exit prostitution, whilst at the […]
national transgender member caucus Conference notes that trans people continue to experience discrimination at the hands of the NHS. The “Postcode Lottery” of Primary Care Trust (PCT) funding of Gender Reassignment services, with Trans people in some areas being refused services while others are made to wait years for funding. There are long waiting lists […]
It has come to the attention of the South West Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Committee that the uses to which diversity monitoring information is being put are arbitrary and dislocated. Some, such as ‘targeting LGBT communities by domicile’ are open to, at best misuse, and at worse, threats and intimidation or unsolicited outing. […]
Submitted by Transgender Caucus Conference notes that trans people continue to experience discrimination in both gaining initial employment and retaining employment once they have transitioned and although social attitudes have moved on and despite much positive legislative change in recent years, there is still problems being encountered in the workplace. There is concern that Coalition […]
Conference notes the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government. Conference recalls the Conservatives’ poor record on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights. Conference notes that despite Cameron’s attempts to make his party more electable, he voted against lesbian fertility rights and same sex couple adoption, and asked for the recording to be stopped […]