Promoting Branch Self-Organisation

Conference notes with some concern that many UNISON branches in the UK do not appear to have an active Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender self organised group (LGBT SOG). Conference believes that branch-level LGBT SOGs are a key way to ensure visibility of the diverse LGBT agenda within branches, and that they serve as a […]

Operational Staff Groups

Conference notes that a number of public sector employers are engaged in a process of setting up staff groups, from workers who self-identify within equality and diversity strands. Examples are groups for women, for black and minority workers, for disabled workers and for LGBT workers. These groups can inform and advise the employer on matters […]

Recognition

Conference recognises with great pride the success of the introduction of Police Community Support Officers within England and Wales. It is a shame that this invaluable work is not recognised by the employer or the Home Office. The Janes’ Police review Community Police Officer of the Year Awards recognises the work of Community Police Officers […]

MAY DAY CELEBRATION

This branch of UNISON attended the 2006 TUC May Day Rally held in London which called for Trade Union Rights for 21st Century and workplace justice. As part of the fastest growing service group within UNISON, we were proud to show our solidarity with fellow trade unionists and allies the world over, on this important […]

POLICE OFFICER STRENGTH STATISTICS

Conference notes that the Government’s headline statistics for Police Officer strength do not differentiate between those officers in front line roles and those undertaking roles which could be undertaken by Police Staff. As political parties of all persuasions see this crude figure as a campaigning issue, there is a risk that the Government might be […]

Shared Police Control Rooms and Remote Processing

Conference is alarmed at the growing threat to Police Staff jobs posed by the sharing of Police Control Rooms with other Emergency Services. Workforce Modernisation, Force Restructuring and Regionalisation work on the simple basis of efficiency gains. Therefore Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1)liaise with the Home Office to identify the extent and […]

Police Force Amalgamations and Joint Working

This Conference supports the UNISON position statement on Force restructuring. It notes that amalgamations are now not likely to proceed in the near future but believes that we must remain vigilant and able to respond to developments and the changing situation. Consequently Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1)consider alternative responses to possible future […]

Essential Training for Police Staff

Police Staff are lacking a structured approach to their own training and development. There is little to no scope for progression/movement into other areas of work and there is very limited IT Systems training. Police Staff development consists of applying for jobs and being successful and very few progressive routes exist. It is essential that […]

Operational Police Staff Supervisors

The Home Office’s insistence that Police Staff no longer hold the position of supervisor is of great concern to Conference. This is particularly evident with PCSOs and Enquiry Desk Officers. The Home Office believes that Police Officers and Sergeants can fill this void. They hold the view that local beat officers may handle operational direction […]

Vetting of Police Staff

Conference notes the increased intrusiveness of vetting, especially financial vetting of Police Staff. Conference also notes that local forces are trying to implement their own vetting procedures but there are no nationally agreed procedures. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1)provide support and information to branches on how to resist the implementation of local […]

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Police Staff Participation

Conference is appalled at the timing of the trial/pilot in merging of Police Staff Conference and Seminar, to coincide with the closing of National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Conference. This raises significant participation and confidentiality issues for Police Staff members who identify as LGBT and are not ‘Out’ within the work place or […]

Short Term Funding

Conference notes with increasing concern and alarm that the Service Group Executive has failed to implement any of the motions raised on this issue in 2004 (motions 11 and 27) and 2005 (motion 20) on short term funding particularly with regard to Police Community Support officers (PCSOs). Government funding for PCSOs, Custody Officers and Volume […]

Health and Safety Reps Seminar

The Service Groups covered by the Business and Environment Unit held a successful Seminar of Health & Safety Reps at National level in the early part of this decade. Many Health and Safety related legislative changes that affect members in the Energy Service Group have occurred since this time and this Energy Conference calls on […]

Disability Equality within the Water Industry

We welcome the changes to legislation passed in April 2005 and coming into force December 2006. This will impose a new disability equality duty on public bodies. However we are concerned that the water industry may not be covered by the new duties. We believe these new duties could contribute towards a barrier-free society and […]

Wheechair Access to Water Coolers

Conference welcomes the decision of the Water and Environment Service Group Executive to launch the Water@Work campaign as part of the wider Water for Health Alliance in liaison with Water UK, WaterAid, and various water companies. Conference recognises that the health benefits of drinking water regularly are incontrovertible and that well hydrated workers have been […]