CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Conference notes the continued prevalence of bi-, homo- and trans-phobic bullying among children and young people and the continued absence, largely, of positive image of Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Trans people from children’s and young people’s services. Conference believes that schools, playgrounds, youth clubs, children’s homes etc. should be safe places for all Lesbian, […]

MORE THAN A CAUCUS – ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIAL EVENTS

Conference takes pride in the way our venues are safe spaces in which to conduct our business. However, our Conference is also made more attractive by the chance to socialise with other delegates and visitors after the day’s business. Many delegates and visitors enjoy the entertainments that our host city has to offer, but these […]

MATERNITY SUPPORT LEAVE

Conference welcomes the provision for statutory paternity leave but notes with concern the low level of take up. Conference considers this is explained by: 1.The level of statutory paternity pay, currently a maximum of £106.00 per week; 2.Limited eligibility – restricted to the baby’s father or the partner of a woman on maternity leave; and, […]

SUPPORTING LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS

This Conference believes: 1.To be LGBT remains illegal in many countries across the world, with LGBT people facing life prison sentences, beatings, rape, torture and even death; 2.Even in countries where the state does not officially sanction severe repression of LGBT people, homophobia and transphobia can be brutally rife; 3.The UK Asylum system should provide […]

HOMOPHOBIA IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR

Conference notes with concern growing levels of homophobia – particularly against young people – and the refusal of most schools and other education facilities to acknowledge that discrimination and inequality is an issue. Figures indicate that 72% of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual adults reported a regular history of absenteeism at school due to homophobic harassment. […]

LGBT CAMPAIGN GUIDE

This Conference notes the recent successful campaigns around LGBT issues, notably the campaign in favour of the LGBT rule change and our successes over Civil Partnerships and Pension rights and believes we can apply the lessons from these successful campaigns to campaign more successfully in the future. Conference believes that we still confront many challenges […]

Elder Abuse

A House of Commons healthcare committee recently reported on the alarming prevalence of elder abuse. The report found that as many as half a million elderly people may be being abused. Elder abuse may take the form of sexual, physical and financial abuse, neglect and over-medication. Despite the extent of this problem, many people are […]

Personal and/or Nursing Care

Conference believes that the distinction between nursing and personal care should be ended. It is completely unacceptable to charge old and/or disabled people for essential and needed personal care. Good quality personal and nursing care should be provided on the basis of need, free and without means-testing. Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to […]

National Pensioners’ Convention

The National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) was formed in 1979 to act as the umbrella organisation of the pensioners’ movement throughout the country. Affiliated groups include many national bodies and federations, associations of retired trade unionists, as well as hundreds of local and regional pensioner campaign groups. The NPC’s main objective is to promote the welfare […]

Travel Insurance – Age Discrimination

Conference notes the general practice of the travel insurance industry to impose extra premiums on the simple fact that the traveller is of pensionable age. In view of the European Union’s Directive on Ageism, due to be implemented in October 2006, Conference requests the National Executive Council to conduct a campaign in conjunction with other […]

CHARTER OF RIGHTS IN LAW FOR CITIZENS OF PENSION AGE

Conference agrees that with £25 billion surplus in the National Insurance Fund that it is no longer a question of money but the lack of political will on the part of government. Taking into consideration the support received for the National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) Manifesto in the run up to the general election and the […]

School Remodelling Agreement

Conference believes the National Agreement on school remodelling offered the opportunity to develop a career structure for school support staff, a long held aim of UNISON. Today many authorities have agreed new pay and grading structures, but not all. New training opportunities have been developed and many schools, for the first time, are including support […]

Ageism and Holiday Insurance

Conference is aware that as members become older it becomes increasingly difficult and in some cases impossible to obtain suitable travel insurance especially on an annual policy basis, at a reasonable price. Our own UIA no longer offers an annual policy to those over 65 years and will only offer individual trips at highly inflated […]

Council Tax Revaluation

Conference calls on the National Retired Members’ Committee and the National Executive Council to closely monitor and make suitable representations to government with regard to the present ongoing revaluation of homes – which will inevitably result in changes to the banding levels with a detrimental effect on the elderly who are on a fixed income […]

Further Education Pay Strategy

This group meeting notes that attempts to re-establish effective central pay negotiations in Further Education have largely failed, as a high percentage of colleges have refused to be bound by the recent 2 year agreement. This group meeting believes that it is vital that UNISON, in negotiation with NATFHE and other relevant unions, should attempt […]