Conference welcomes the fact that UNISON has adopted comprehensive policy on Palestine at successive national delegate conferences in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Conference notes that 2007 marked the fortieth anniversary of the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. 2008 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the “Nakba” which […]
Conference motions
Conference notes the Government’s eventual recognition that the pensions-earnings link should be restored and that employers should no longer be able to evade taking some responsibility for their employees pensions. Conference does not, however, accept the Government’s proposals that: 1)the link will not be restored before 2012; 2)even then, restoration will only occur “subject to […]
Conference notes: 1)composite E passed at 2007 National Delegate Conference of UNISON, regarding Home Care; 2)that despite the sentiments of this motion, the Employers and Government have accelerated the drive to privatise and destroy publicly provided health and social care services; 3)this has led to the undermining of conditions and pay for a predominately (and […]
Conference notes that services delivered under the auspices of “Local Strategic Partnerships” (LSP’s) will have an increasingly significant impact on UNISON members in many Service Groups; but it will impact in particular, and sooner, on members in Local Government because of the leading role local authorities have in LSP’s and the planned shift in funding. […]
Conference welcomes the increased flexibility that has been given to local authorities to focus their spending on local needs. The conversion of many ring-fenced grants in both England (through Area Based Grants) and Scotland (as agreed in the Scottish Local Government Concordat) to general funding is welcome. The burden of assessment of council services is […]
Health students across the National Health Service face significant challenges throughout their studies; to become the nurses, midwives, paramedics, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners and social workers of the future. With clinical placements and high course hours on top of their academic work, the knowledge of a secure job at the end is a significant […]
Conference is appalled that mental health services are still so poorly funded in comparison with other parts of the NHS and that some staff in mental health teams are increasingly taking on more responsible roles, without the appropriate acknowledgement or reward for doing so. Government promises to prioritise mental health services have not been carried […]
Conference notes the statistics published by the NHS Security Management Service for 2006-7 showing a fall in violence against NHS staff in England. However Conference is concerned that in both the Ambulance and Mental Healthcare sectors the reduction was significantly less than elsewhere and front line workers in these areas continue to face unacceptable levels […]
This conference is concerned that many NHS employers are seeking to avoid their obligations under the Agenda for Change agreement by conducting restructurings of their organisations, or sections or departments within them, to deliberately achieve the down-banding or down-grading of staff, particularly those in clinical or therapy or professional specialist or leadership posts. The government’s […]
Conference notes the attention given to hospital infection rates, and the resulting government campaign for cleaner hospitals. Because of the requirement to make huge efficiency savings and continuing lack of resources, cleanliness in hospitals is suffering and more and more cleaning staff are having to take on extra duties including “hands-on” patient care. We note […]
Conference notes with concern that in England the majority of NHS Trusts are unlikely to meet their target, pledged by John Reid in November 2004, of halving Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) incident rates by April 2008. Conference is also concerned about the rise in incidence of Clostridium difficile (C diff) which now poses a bigger […]
Conference notes that the 2007/8 pay settlement for the NHS includes a commitment by the Government, Employers and unions to enter into further talks with a view to agreeing a multi-year agreement on pay and other issues. The 2007/8 settlement was agreed in an all member ballot held in September 2007 and was supported by […]
This conference notes the proposal for the Prime Minister to bring forward a Bill of Rights for Great Britain. Conference expresses concern at Government hostility to the inclusion of socio-economic rights in such a Bill. Conference further notes that work has been underway in Northern Ireland to produce a Bill of Rights – including socio-economic […]
Conference welcomes the Make Public Services Count campaign in response to the Government’s continued reform agenda for public services. 1)the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review means public bodies have to deliver at least 3% year on year efficiency savings; 2)the Government’s financial settlement for local government means many Councils will face major cuts over the next […]
Rule D3.5.8 Add new rule D.3.5.8 ‘No member who holds a seat on the National Executive Council as a service group representative under Rule D2.3 can hold any other seat on a service group executive at the same time.’ Renumber rest of Rule D3.5