Prostate Problems

Conference notes that prostate can affect more than one in three men over the age of 50. The prostate is a small gland found only in men, trans women, non-binary people who were assigned male at birth and some intersex people, we also note that data shows that African Caribbean people are more likely to […]

PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENTS – WE NEED A FAIR PIP ASSESSMENT PROCESS WHICH IS FIT FOR PURPOSE

This National Disabled Conference notes with concern that the process of applying for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) continues to be long, arduous and stressful with an unacceptably large number of disabled people still being refused benefit through the PIP process. Conference is further concerned that the staff employed to undertake assessments frequently have little knowledge […]

Disabled people have the right to travel too

Disabled people including our Disabled Members could find themselves losing their Personal Independence Payments (PIP) if they go abroad for a holiday, for work or even to visit family. Current government guidance says PIP claimants need to inform the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) if they’re planning to travel abroad for 28 days or […]

Access to Hospital Equipment

Conference notes that a disproportionate number of disabled people have to attend hospital for appointments and treatments. Why, then is hospital equipment not adequate for use by disabled people? For example, for many disabled people with mobility issues trolleys and examination tables do not go low enough and eye testing equipment is often impossible to […]

Accessibility on the railway network.

Conference, we all support the RMT in their campaign to maintain ticket offices and the employment of railway personnel. The removal of ticket offices at stations and cuts to railway staff disproportionately affect disabled people. Conference believes that train station offices and railway personnel should not be reduced to protect the safety and wellbeing of […]

Inappropriate application of ‘Do not Resuscitate’ Notices – Never Again

Conference notes that UNISON has campaigned vigorously on behalf of disabled people. Disabled people across the UK have a right to equal access to health care just like anyone else. Yet the potentially unlawful use of ‘Do not Resuscitate’ notices for fit and healthy people during the COVID-19 pandemic was discriminatory and put lives in […]

Let’s Raise Awareness

Conference notes the exceptional Trans ally training scheme that our union has created and delivered to many Unison members. Our Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender + (LGBT+) National committee, it’s officers and the Transgender, Non Binary and Gender Diverse caucus must be applauded for the work and effort they have put into the training and […]

Hate Crime Equality

Elevating the offence of assault against the disabled community from an assault to an aggravated assault. We call upon conference to support the motion to elevate the offence of assault against a member of the disabled community from an assault to an aggravated assault by influencing the government to make changes to the law. Currently […]

Make our union documents and language inclusive to national reading age of 9

Conference notes that GOV.UK recommends that written communication is aimed at a reading age of 9 for readability. As a union we use many terms and specific language that people outside the union don’t use every day and don’t always understand. When a disabled person joins the union it is like being in a place […]

Neurodiversity Awareness

Despite the increasing recognition of neurodiversity, many people with neurodivergent conditions continue to face significant challenges in their daily lives. These challenges include stigma, discrimination, and a lack of understanding and support from society at large. This can lead to negative outcomes, such as unemployment, social isolation, and poor mental health. The purpose of this […]

Tory chaos – subject to change

Conference they say a week in politics is a long time but over the last week, not mention month, the government has been in total chaos and made the UK a laughing stock. But for disabled people and our Disabled Members none of this is funny. It seemed that every time the now former Prime […]

Say NO to a Bill of Rights that REDUCES disabled and LGBT+ rights

Conference notes that the Conservative government has declared their intention to replace the Human Rights Act 1998 with a new Bill of Rights which they introduced to parliament on 22nd June 2022. The Bill of Rights would repeal the Human Rights Act (HRA), which directly incorporated into domestic British law rights set out in the […]

Smashing all equality pay gaps

Conference notes that pay gaps affect large swathes of our membership regardless of service group or self organised structures within UNISON. Pay gaps measure the average hourly pay of a group of people with a ‘protected characteristic,’ such as women or Black workers, compared to the average hourly pay for men or white workers for […]

Trans Ally Training

Conference welcomes progress made by UNISON over many years in campaigning and negotiating for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+) people both in work and in society. Despite these advances, many transgender people still experience serious abuse and discrimination on a daily basis, including in their workplaces. A disproportionate number of trans […]

Disabled people and the cost of living crisis

Conferences notes the cost of living crisis which will disproportionately impact on disabled people. Even before the pandemic, disability related expenses or the ‘disability price tag’ was on average £583 extra per month compare to non-disabled people, according to the 2019 Scope Disability Price Tag report. One in five faced extra costs of more than […]