Conference recognises that many retired members will know from their own personal experience the dangers of fascism. Conference notes that the British National Party (BNP) is organising in the West Midlands, East London and in other areas across the country in an attempt to have at least one BNP candidate elected at the next General […]
Conference motions
Conference is concerned that the campaign to turn down heating thermostat settings conflicts with the advice to keep a warm home. Conference requests the National Retired Members Committee to seek, through the National Executive Council, assurances from the Government, and other interested bodies, that clear advice relating to elderly people is included in future heating […]
Conference notes that UNISON is a union committed to promoting equality and valuing diversity, and that these principles underpin all our organisational structure, policies and practice. These principles are enshrined in our nation rule book. Rule B1 Aims and Objectives, 1.2 and 1.3. Rule B2 Union Democracy, 2.3. They apply to all the union’s structures, […]
Conference recognises the outstanding role UNISON plays in the international trade union movement. UNISON recognises that Britain’s economy and political system are interdependent with Europe and the rest of the world, and that it is vital that UNISON works with sister trade unions in other countries and through key international organisations to promote and protect […]
This conference is aware that motions to previous conferences, namely Motion 5 at the Police Staff Service Group Conference in 2001 and Motion 16 at the Police Staff Service Group Conference in 2005 have raised this issue. Both of these motions raised concerns over the increasing demands placed upon branch officers and those UNISON activists […]
Conference declares that effective and workable communication to all retired members is essential to the present and future interests of all retired members’ groups, and is disappointed at the lack of progress by the National Retired Members’ Committee (NRMC) in developing a clear policy for this purpose. Conference also regrets that no report has been […]
Conference believes that council tax is an inherently unfair tax which does not properly reflect people’s ability to pay. More importantly it is not based on an equitable system for calculating amounts that should be paid. This is most clearly demonstrated by the current system of council tax collection, which specifically affects pensioners who pay […]
Conference recognises the different role and contribution of retired members to their working counterparts and accepts that their involvement in UNISON is more limited. However, Conference believes that many retired members still have much to offer the union and that their preclusion from almost all aspects of its work is not necessarily in UNISON’s best […]
Conference condemns the decision to remove the entitlement to concessions for pensioners attending day and evening classes other than for those in receipt of pensions credit. For many decades all pensioners could access day and evening classes either free or at a nominal cost. This allowed many people who had not previously had access to […]
Conference regrets that in his March 2007 budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, again failed to increase the basic state pension to restore its value if the link to average earnings had not been broken by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Government. Pensioners should have an immediate rise now to restore the pension value and […]
National Retired Members Conference is to be congratulated on producing the Annual Report for questioning by members in advance of the National Retired Members Conference. However, the time scale for questioning in 2006 was inadequate. There does not appear to be any reason why the Annual Report is not circulated to retired members in June. […]
Conference does not believe that a ‘Social Europe’ which gives priority to the needs of working people and their families is possible on the basis of the fundamental treaties of the EU which promote freedom for capital and monetarist financial policies. Conference notes that the European Directive on Services was adopted at the end of […]
This Conference notes that the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) being conducted by the Chancellor will set the UK Government’s spending priorities up to 2011 and that it is perfectly possible to combine sound management of the economy with ample provision of high-standard public services. Already we know we face a tougher spending environment than previously, […]
Conference believes that the provision of free travel is beneficial to the health and well-being of people over 60, and greatly enhances their quality of life. The government included in the 2005 budget, the introduction of free local bus travel for pensioners in April 2006. However, implementation has been costly and complicated. There have been […]
Conference, recognising current UNISON policy is firmly in favour of nuclear disarmament, is appalled by the intention of the United Kingdom (UK) government to replace the Trident nuclear weapon system. Conference recognises that the vote taken in the Westminster Parliament on 14 March does not signify the end of the process to replace Trident, with […]