TWO TIER PENSION SYSTEM

Conference notes the two tier pension system that came into effect in April 2016 following the introduction of the new state pension (as discussed at Conference 2015 and embodied in Motion 5 as passed). Conference 2015 instructed the National Retired Members Committee, and called on the National Executive Council, to campaign to right this injustice. […]

Health and Safety in the probation service

Conference notes with concern that the new contracts in the Probation Service agreed by the Ministry of Justice do not take account of many health and safety and data protection issues. Members working in the service report that: a)the layout of the workspace leads to interviews with clients being conducted in open-plan offices, with no […]

An inflexible police service

The College of Policing guidance on flexible working states that “Policing is a demand led, 24/7 service where its people are key to its successful delivery. By providing flexible working arrangements for staff, organisations are shown to have a more motivated and productive workforce…. it is about gaining a balance that provides an opportunity for […]

CODE OF GOOD BRANCH PRACTICE

Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to seek the following alterations to the Code of Good Branch Practice: 1)Remove the word, “normal” from the first paragraph of 11.3.1.1; 2)Amend 11.3.14 to require the Branch Retired Members’ Secretary to be a retired member; 3)Make clear that the power of branches at annual meetings (in rule […]

RULE D6.5

Conference notes that Rule D6.5 does not describe the Branch Retired Members’ Secretary as a member of the Branch Committee, rather it says she/he “may attend and speak at all (its) meetings … and may vote on (certain matters)”. This appears to leave unclear whether she/he counts towards the quorum or has the same right […]

RETIRED MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE – FAIR REPRESENTATION

Conference notes that Conference Bulletin, UNISON Retired Members Conference 2016, dated April 2016, included the following paragraph: Proportionality and Fair Representation The principles of proportionality and fair representation contained in the NEC’s Scheme of Branch Representation must be strictly maintained. Specifically for Retired members Conference … the gender make-up of (a branch) delegation is based […]

SCHEDULE B

Conference notes that paragraph 2.2 of Schedule B excludes retired members from benefits under paragraphs 2.7 and 2.8 of the schedule. In other words, where an accident or a fatal accident befalls a retired member whilst upon union business, there is no rulebook benefit though there would be one for a full member in the […]

TRADES UNION CONGRESS

Conference notes that UNISON affiliates to the Trades Union Congress on the basis of its total membership, including retired members, and this determines the number of votes UNISON may cast at Congress. But conference also notes that there are no places for retired members, as such, on the UNISON Congress delegation. Conference finds it anomalous […]

INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX ON TRAVEL INSURANCE

The Government introduced Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) in 1994 at a rate of 2.5% and this has been raised at an ever faster rate to 10%. However IPT on travel insurance, introduced in 1997, has a higher rate, currently 20%. The adoption of the higher rate for travel insurance discriminates against pensioners whose health problems […]

CONCESSIONARY RAIL FARES

For many pensioners, the concessionary bus pass has been a lifeline, giving them greater independence in their daily lives and access to social and volunteering opportunities. It is a concession greatly appreciated by many of us. Rail travel is expensive and beyond the means of many pensioners. Although concessions are available giving as much as […]

POWER FOR OLDER AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Conference welcomes the initiative of Northern Powergrid, EON and others in setting up a Priority Service Register of elderly, infirm or disabled people who require extra support during power cuts. Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee, to publicise this service and requests the NEC and other relevant bodies to encourage all other utility providers […]

SAVE CARE NOW

Conference welcomes the continuing progress being made with UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter and the broader campaign rebranded ‘Save Care Now’. Social care budgets in England have been slashed by £2.68 billion in the last three years. The government claims the 2% precept English councils have been permitted to add to Council Tax will raise £2 […]

A TAX FREE STATE PENSION

This Conference regrets that there is no automatic notification to HMRC to adjust tax codes to account for the receipt of State Pension. Despite low occupational pensions, the receipt of State Pension frequently puts retired members above the level of personal allowance (£11,000 for 2016/17) and therefore liable for payment of tax. It is everyone’s […]

Dispel The Myths Around Protected Police Budgets

Conference notes that in his November 2015 Spending Review, Chancellor George Osborne stated “Now is not the time for further Police cuts, now is the time to back our Police and give them the tools to do the job” (BBC News 25 November 2015). Yet in April 2016, the South Yorkshire Police outline policing plan […]

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RETIRED PEOPLE

Our 2014 Conference instructed the National Retired Members Committee and the National Executive Council to resist moves to make access for retired people to goods, services benefits and social communications available only via the internet. Sadly this process continues with many service providers such as banks, building societies, energy providers and travel companies only offering […]