Improving services for bisexual people

Conference notes that of all the main sexual orientation groups, bisexual people are the most invisible and least provided for in terms of dedicated or fully relevant and inclusive services. Lack of evidence on bisexual people and services is both a symptom and a cause of wider bisexual invisibility. Conference therefore welcomes the survey report […]

Bi not binary

Conference notes the myths and prejudice that surround bisexuality and bisexual people and how this impacts on people’s working lives. Conference believes that this is partly based on the dominant perception that gender identity and sexual orientation are binaries – woman or man; same sex attraction or opposite sex attraction. This leads to the non-inclusive […]

Developing and supporting new activists

Conference notes that last year the national young members’ forum introduced a motion to draw up a charter for the ongoing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement, to help newer, younger activists understand what there still is to fight for. Conference further notes the motion was well-received and this charter is currently being drafted […]

The Scottish LGBT Equality Report

On the 21st July 2015 the Equality Network launched The Scottish LGBT Equality Report, a major new state-of-the-nation report on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people’s experiences of inequality in Scotland. The report is the most comprehensive study of LGBT inequality in Scotland to date, based on a survey of 1052 respondents and informed […]

YOUNG, LGBT AND FACING HOMELESSNESS

Conference notes that the last government enacted housing and benefit policies which had a severe impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Conference is disheartened to find that, following the General Election, we now have a Tory government that is set to make things even worse, and for young LGBT people in particular. […]

Election of Retired Members’ Representatives to Self-Organised Group Conferences

Conference welcomes the decision of national delegate conference 2014 to amend rule D.6.8 to let the national retired members’ organisation send two representatives of relevant retired members to each national self organised group (SOG) conference. Conference congratulates the national retired members’ committee (NRMC) on its speed to implement this so that, as a result of […]

Equal Pensions (2)

Conference notes that some trans women remain cheated of arrears of State Pension due as a result of a European Court of Justice decision because the United Kingdom government, relying on domestic provisions on non-retrospection, refuses to backdate payment to date of transition. Conference instructs the national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender committee to work […]

Prioritisation

Conference notes that prioritisation is a means to enable us to debate first and to have enough time to debate fully matters we deem of greatest significance. Conference considers there is a need to review whether, in practice, this is what we achieve. Conference wonders: 1. Whether any method of prioritisation can achieve such an […]

Alan Turing and Gross Indecency Convictions

Conference applauds the posthumous Royal Pardon granted to Alan Turing for his 1952 gross indecency conviction, effective in December 2013. However Conference believes that such pardons should be given to all men, living and deceased, who were similarly convicted because of their homosexuality. Conference agrees that the legislation that allowed such convictions was iniquitous, unjust […]

Sex and Relationship Education Lessons (SREL)

Conference notes that there is a growing call for ‘Sex and Relationship Education Lessons’ (SREL) to be included as a statutory part of our education system, including at previous UNISON Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) conferences. Reasons for the call include: 1. The fact that the United Kingdom has the worst rates of teenage […]

Equal Old Age Pensions for Women

Conference notes that women who paid reduced National Insurance rates or ‘married women’s stamp’ for some or all of their working lives, are disadvantaged as a result of lower NI payments, unable to receive a state pension in their own right at retirement age. Conference are very concerned that most women were not told of […]

Raising awareness of prostate cancer treatment inequalities for older men

Prostate Cancer UK has researched the way older men receive treatment for diagnosed prostate cancer. In their report ‘5 Inequalities/ 5 Solutions’, the evidence produced reiterates the need that the action called for in Motion 16, UNISON National Retired Members Conference 2014, Southport, should be implemented urgently together with more specific action to further the […]

Improving the implementation of motions carried by the retired members conference

Each year, Conference carries many worthwhile motions and it is important that they are followed up and implemented to the best of UNISON’s ability. Unfortunately, much Conference time is also spent debating motions which, while not necessarily identical, are often very similar to those carried in previous years. Whilst this is helpful in keeping issues […]

SELF ORGANISED GROUPS CONFERENCES – RETIRED MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVES

Conference notes the review of arrangements for the National Retired Members Conference which is being carried out by the National Retired Members Committee (NRMC) following the carrying of Motion 19 (and the remittal of Motion 20) at the 2014 Retired Members Conference. Conference also notes the change to National Rule D.6.8 passed at the 2014 […]

TWO TIER STATE PENSION

Conference notes that with the introduction of the new state pension from April 2016 there will exist a two tier system. Existing pensioners will not be entitled to receive the new level of basic state pension. Although the method of indexation will be the same for both old and new pensions i.e. the triple lock, […]