Gender Recognition Act reform and Government LGBT Action Plan

Conference welcomes the launch of the Westminster government’s consultation on reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2004 on 3 July 2018. It notes that the consultation closed on 19 October, and commends all those branch and regional groups, individual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members and others who submitted responses supporting the reform […]

Palestine

Conference condemns Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the US embassy to the city. On 14 May, as Israeli and US officials celebrated the embassy’s official opening, Israeli troops fired with live ammunition on unarmed Palestinians taking part in the Great Return March protests in Gaza, […]

Solidarity initiatives to Support LGBT People in Turkey and Colombia

Conference reaffirms that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights are human rights. However, even where legislation is in place, many LGBT workers still face considerable discrimination. Research shows transgender people experience the most severe forms of workplace discrimination including, in some countries, being excluded from the formal labour market completely. Turkey and Colombia are […]

Recruitment and Organising and Activism, Pride in our Work

Conference notes that as part of Northern Region’s commitment to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) organising, recruitment and activism, on the 17th of May 2018 Northern Region was lit up with the colours of the Rainbow to commemorate IDAHOBIT (The International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia). This wouldn’t have been possible had it […]

Raising Bi Visibility and supporting Bi Pride

Conference can celebrate how far we’ve come as a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, but sometimes in the bi community it can feel as if we’re slipping into obscurity again, and again. Conference recognises that coming out can be wonderful, sometimes mundane, often traumatic. What would happen if you had to come out […]

Supporting members experiencing transphobic false allegations of misconduct

Conference notes with concern that over recent months there has been a dramatic increase in anti-trans campaigning and transphobia online, in communities, workplaces and, sadly, even within parts of the trade union movement. Although often superficially linked to the debate about the Gender Recognition Act, in reality most of the anti-trans campaigning is targeted at […]

Same Sex Marriage in Northern Ireland

That this conference celebrates that same sex marriage has been legalized in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Scotland, England, Wales, the USA and Uruguay. That this conference is concerned that the same rights are not […]

MARRIAGE EQUALITY

That this conference calls upon The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) to continue to apply pressure in any way legally possible to make full equal marriage a reality in all areas of the United Kingdom (UK). This will include continued pressure by the National LGBT Committee on Westminster and Stormont (if appropriate) to […]

Equal Pensions

Conference notes that: 1)The Supreme Court decision in Walker v Innospec in July 2017, that upon John Walker’s death his husband should get the same pension as would his widow, relies upon European Union (EU) law and sets aside a provision of the United Kingdom’s Equality Act 2010 that permitted occupational pension schemes to pay […]

Palestine

Conference notes that: 1)Israel carries on denying Palestinians their rights and refusing to comply with international law. It maintains regimes of settler colonialism, apartheid and occupation over the Palestinian people; 2)This is only possible because of international support for Israel; governments do not hold Israel to account; corporations and institutions all over the world help […]

SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSFORMATION PLANS (STPs) AND CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS OF OLDER PEOPLE

This Conference notes that the consultation process involving STPs and representative organisations for older people is, to say the least, patchy. In some areas of the country STPs are failing to consult or engage with organisations that represent older people and crucial services are either being introduced or withdrawn without due process taking place. Needs […]

INQUIRY INTO THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL

Conference notes the view of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum that the Financial Reporting Council has been too cosy with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Big Four accountancy firms. This is set against a background of growing concerns about the state of the accounting and auditing professions after a string of […]

The Impact of Sustainability and Transformation Plans on Older People

Conference notes with alarm the disproportionate effect on older people with dementia of inadequate and deteriorating provision of Social care and health services for example: 1) Research has found that older people with dementia are largely the ones using hospital A& E Services or being admitted because of poor or unavailable social care provision; 2) […]

Power of Attorney – Advocacy and Ombudsman Service

This Conference endorses UNISON’s Retired Members’ policy to promote Powers of Attorney to safeguard older persons’ interests in the event of them becoming unable to handle their own affairs. When there is a dispute or misunderstanding between the two or more people holding the Power of Attorney or between the Attorney and the donor , […]

Easier Access to Powers of Attorney

This conference notes the media constantly bombard us with reports of the ageing population and the increasing strain this is putting on our public services. What gets no coverage at all is the difficulties, for the individual and their nearest and dearest, if they are unable to manage their own affairs. The solution to these […]