SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES IN THE HEALTH SERVICE

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 […]

PALESTINE

Conference notes that UNISON and its former partner unions have called for many years for peace with justice for the Palestinian people and for a solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict based upon international law including particularly: 1.Israeli withdrawal to the borders of 4 June 1967; 2.The right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their […]

LEARNING DISABILITY ISSUES

Conference recognises there is increasing recognition of issues facing LGBT service users, in particular welcoming the publication of “Not Just a Friend” giving guidance on the recognition of same sex relationships. Conference further welcomes that equality and diversity have been recognised as core standards in the NHS and also recognises that the Local Government Association […]

BEST PRACTICE IN BLOOD COLLECTION FOR POTENTIAL DONORS

Conference requires the NLGC to have a meeting with the National Blood Service and Department of Health to ensure that “best practice” and inclusive processes are in place when blood collection in workplaces is taking place. Conference is concerned that when blood collection takes place in workplaces individuals could be “outed” when gay men who […]

SO3 – MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS

In Standing Order 3.2, delete ‘preliminary’ from first sentence.

CUBA

This Conference welcomes the unanimous adoption by TUC Congress 2003 of a motion that condemned “the intensifying and hostile attempts by the United States to undermine the self-determination and economic position of Cuba” Conference recognises that threats against Cuba are continuing, and that senior US politicians continue to call on President Bush to take military […]

EQUALITY AND INCLUSION – A PUBLIC SERVICES AGENDA FOR LESBIANS AND GAY MEN

Conference recognises that the UNISON publication “Equality and inclusion: a public services agenda for lesbians and gay men” was an excellent publication for promoting our agenda and UNISON. This document was produced in 2001 and we have witnessed much legislative change over the past few years in the UK forum and also the devolved parliaments. […]

FULL EQUALITY IN PARTNERSHIP RIGHTS

Conference welcomes the Civil Partnership Bill, but believes it falls short of full equality. Conference therefore calls for the following: 1.Both marriage and Civil Partnership should be available to both same and opposite sex partners; 2.There should be legal recognition for same and opposite sex partners who are either unable or unwilling to register or […]

LOCAL CAMPAIGNING AGAINST FASCISM – WORKING WITH TRADES UNION COUNCILS

Conference welcomes how many branch and regional lesbian and gay groups devoted resources in the run-up to the June 10th elections to campaigning against the British National Party (BNP) and other fascist candidates. Conference notes the invaluable role of Searchlight providing research, training and publicity for this campaign and the role of Trades Union Congress […]

BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE

Conference welcomes the increased profile of lesbian and gay workplace issues in the work of many parts of our union, while acknowledging that there is still much to be done. Conference notes that since the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 came into force, advice on employment issues necessarily addresses bisexual workers as well as […]

SO1 – APPLICATION OF STANDING ORDERS

In Standing Order 1.2, delete first sentence and replace with: ‘The Standing Orders may be changed by Conference approving, with a two-thirds majority of those people present and voting, a motion which has appeared on both the preliminary and final Conference agendas, except for motions from the Black and Disabled Members Caucuses, which may only […]

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Conference notes with grave concern that in July 2000, Kent County Council banned the publishing, purchasing or distributing of material which “promote gay lifestyles” in its 600 schools, in anticipation of the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales. It is unfortunate that since the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales late […]

TRADES UNION CONGRESS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER CONFERENCE

Conference recalls last year’s resolution calling upon the Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (TUC LGB&T) Committee to review whether arrangements for its annual conference best meet the needs of the maximum number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender trades unionists. Conference notes that UNISON raised this with the TUC which decided not […]

ORGANISING FOR LEARNING

The 2002 Employment Act gave lifelong Learning Advisers and Union Learning Representatives the same statutory rights as Stewards and Health and Safety Representatives. During the same year, UNISON rolled out a Union Learning Fund project aimed at developing UNISON’s capacity to organise around learning via a network of well trained and supported learning advisers and […]

Local Government Finance

Conference notes that reviews of Local Government Finance are taking place throughout the United Kingdom. Local Authorities need reliable income, solid financial structures and increased revenue in order to be able to deal with the new burdens placed on them by Central Government and are increasingly unable to maintain funding of core services. The present […]