Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Young People

Conference acknowledges the excellent work already undertaken by the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Committee to raise the awareness of issues faced by LGBT members. Unfortunately, LGBT members are still facing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, and our young people particularly suffer from bullying within education. We still hear about LGBT young people being […]

Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual and Transgender Equalities Training.

Conference will be aware that many personal care services formerly provided by local authorities to the elderly are now contracted out to private providers. We have serious concerns regarding the level of training given to those staff in the private sector. We are equally concerned that with the increasing workloads and subsequent sickness levels experienced […]

THE ‘F’ WORD

Conference believes: Feminism has been and remains instrumental in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) liberation as well as in the wider struggle for equalities. Feminism plays a vital role in the creation of and structures of the LGBT movement and as such feminism is not confined to the women’s movement. Conference believes that we […]

SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION IS GOOD

Conference is aware that many of our activists use videos, such as those from UNISON’s recent membership campaigns and television adverts, to raise awareness of our union. These are great recruitment tools which support our activists and engage potential members’ interest but they seldom promote the work the self-organised groups do or highlight the union’s […]

DOMESTIC ABUSE, MALE VIOLENCE AND THE ROLE OF UNISON

Conference notes: 1. The majority of domestic abuse is perpetrated by men against women. According to data in the 2011/12 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), 31% of women and 18% of men had experienced any domestic abuse since the age of 16; 2. Women are far more likely to be victims of sexual […]

EXPORT EMBARGO

Conference believes that some things should never be exported as they can cause problems in the country they are exported to. Animals, reptiles and amphibians can cause untold damage in an ecosystem where they don’t belong. Conference is certain that the same is true for laws and legislation. What works well in one country will […]

Privatisation of public services and TUPE

Increasing privatisation of our public services means that many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members are being transferred into the employment of the private sector. For many, TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection in Employment Regulations) has been a saviour to maintaining hard won employment terms and conditions and the protection from discrimination, with sound […]

Gender Equality Solidarity initiatives the first step in raising awareness for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equality?

UNISON has long campaigned for the rights of Palestinian people, and works with trade unions, labour organisations and human rights groups in implementing its policy. More recently, UNISON has supported unions in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) who are working to ensure that their role as civil society organisations is […]

Compulsory Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) including LGBT issues in schools

Despite pressure from within successive governments and external organisations for many years, Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) is still not compulsory in secondary education. The government rejected the proposal to make PSHE compulsory in March 2013 and it continues to be “not yet good enough” as stated in the Ofsted report published in May. However, […]

INEQUALITY IN EQUAL MARRIAGE

Conference celebrates the historic moment when, on Wednesday, 17 July 2013, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was given Royal Assent and became an Act, and is already choosing hats for the first same-sex weddings due during 2014. Yet, despite the rhetoric from the Con-Dem government, all is not yet equal and the fight for […]

Caucuses Supporting Regional Participation

Conference notes some regions are reporting reduced attendance at their open regional lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group meetings and in particular a distinct lack of Black, disabled, bisexual and transgender members. The National LGBT Committee is made up of 24 representatives of the regional groups (two per region). These representatives are elected by […]

Ethical care

Conference notes that many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are less able than others to rely on family support in old age so may be more reliant on home care services. Conference is concerned about the quality of such services and whether they address the needs of LGBT people. Conference also notes that […]

Intersex members

Conference welcomes the adoption in June by the Australian Parliament of a Bill extending the provisions of the country’s Sex Discrimination Act so as to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status in areas including employment, the provision of goods and services, and education. This is the first time […]

Stop legal aid cuts for LGBT asylum seekers

Conference notes the human rights abuses perpetrated within the country of origin of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who make asylum applications in the United Kingdom (UK). It also acknowledges the serious failings of the UK Borders and Immigration Agency to appropriately process and investigate such applications. All LGBT asylum seekers therefore need […]

Equal Pension Rights for LGBT Couples

Conference welcomes the intention of the Scottish Government to ensure that there is equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples when it comes to pensions that are under Scottish control. Hence LGBT teachers, local government workers, NHS staff and police and fire service personnel will have equality in pension provision in Scotland. As […]