Dementia

DEMENTIA Conference welcomes the PM’s recent announcement that an additional £40 million will be made available for dementia research by 2014, on the basis that “every little helps” and that the main research co-ordinating body, the Alzheimer’s Society, knows well how to exploit the last penny. Cameron’s Dementia Challenge is also a welcome initiative, though […]

Dignity in Care

DIGNITY IN CARE Conference welcomes the report of the Commission on Dignity in Care established by the Local Government Association, the National Health Service and AgeUK. However, Conference believes that the report’s recommendations are largely common sense, and would be carried out almost as a matter of course if hospitals and care homes had the […]

REMOVAL OF THE DWP CARER’S ALLOWANCE (CA) WHEN THE CARER STARTS TO DRAW THEIR STATE PENSION (SP)

Conference may be aware that many family members and friends unselfishly act as “at home carers” to provide for the needs of their aged and infirm relatives and friends. This enables those who are being cared for to live, with support, leading an independent life within their own homes in a safe and secure environment. […]

Elderly Social Care and Migrant Workers

Conference notes that the Million Voices Campaign asserts the common interest of public service workers and service users to defend public services and to ensure their quality and effective delivery. In elder/social care, care workers stand alongside care-users and their relatives as guardians of a safe and effective service. Campaigns against the neglect and ill […]

Elderly Abuse Campaign

Motion for Retired Members Conference 2012 From Greater London Region Retired Members Committee Elderly Abuse Campaign Now that UNISON has adopted the campaign as a National Campaign, This conference therefore urges all Branches across the country to support the campaign against Elder Abuse by promoting it amongst its members, getting them to sign the petition […]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Conference is concerned to learn of the problem of domestic violence among older couples. Recent publicity has revealed a previously hidden world in which women have endured decades of abuse which sometimes tragically results in their death. In October 2010 an 81 year old woman died from a bleed to the brain following an alleged […]

CHALLENGING RACISM DEFENDING PUBLIC SERVICES

Conference notes with deep concern new research by UNISON on the disproportionate impact of public service cuts on Black workers. This research, conducted as part of UNISON’s Challenging Racism in the Workplace and piloted in Greater London in November- December 2011 and results of which were analysed in January 2012 showed that Black women working […]

CUBA AS A ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN IN PUBLIC ROLES

Today only twenty two per cent of MPs in the House of Commons and twenty per cent of members of the House of Lords are women. Compare this with Cuba where women hold thirty five per cent of parliamentary seats in the Cuban National Assembly. Therefore Cuba ranks sixth out of one hundred and sixty […]

BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE

The public sector cuts have had an unprecedented impact on women, with increasing numbers accepting redundancy and voluntary early severance. Those women who are left in the workplace are experiencing an increase in stress as work pressures mount and bullying, in its various manifestations increases. This is also affecting vulnerable clients, as our professional members […]

EQUALITY MONITORING

Conference on 2 September 2011 Eric Pickles, the Secretary for Communities and Local Government new guidance called ‘A fair deal for the community and voluntary sector’. The guidance states councils should not carry out equality questionnaires and use the money saved to fund the community and voluntary sector. They claim that the questions asked about […]

WOMEN AS CARERS

For many years women have been the main carers within the home for their children, disabled and elderly parents. Women have fought for the right to be recognised and to be treated as equal to men. Many workplaces now have policies in place to enable employees to take time off work to care for their […]

FLEXIBLE WORKING OPTION FOR ALL

Conference notes that despite numerous attempts to ensure that employers have a consistent approach to dealing with flexible working requests, there are still widespread differences. As those most likely to be in caring roles are women, this disadvantages women far more than men. Particularly in these challenging times of financial constraints on employers, it is […]

CUTS TO SERVICES AND THE EFFECT ON WOMEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Conference is well aware of the cuts to services all over the UK and those particularly affecting women. Conference however recognises that cuts to services will affect those in rural communities even more acutely. It is acknowledged that services relied upon by those in urban areas, are even more valuable to those living in the […]

A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST THAT COULD SAVE LIVES

Last year’s conference motion on Ovarian Cancer would have been a wake up call to women members unware of the necessity of early detection of ovarian cancer for there to be any reasonable chance of effective treatment. To be told one has cancer is terrifying enough, but for those whose cancers have no immediate symptoms […]

TIME FOR A CHANGE

Conference acknowledges that UNISON publishes some valuable information and guidance material for branches, activists and members on a regular basis and on varying workplace issues and/or recruitment based materials. Yet conference believes that there is not enough UNISON material tailored specifically for women and that the design and format of existing publications for women sometimes […]