BUILDING REGULATIONS AND DISABLED ACCESS

Part M of Schedule 1 of The Building Regulations 1991 as amended by the Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulation 1998 deals with access and facilities for disabled people. Conference notes that Section M is limited to: a)Reasonable provision for disabled people to gain access to and to use the building b)Reasonable provision of sanitary facilities in […]

UNISON EQUALITY DUTY – TRAINING FOR BRANCH ACTIVISTS

Conference welcomes the UNISON Equality Duty, because equality for members is at the heart of what we do. Conference believes that the UNISON Equality Duty cannot be fully effective without the appropriate training being made available for all branch activists and all other interested UNISON members. Conference believes that training is a valuable tool for […]

AGENCY WORKERS

This conference applauds the negotiations that UNISON has been involved in through the TUC to secure employment protection for agency workers who are employed for 12 weeks with the same employer. However, we are concerned that disabled agency workers may face particular disadvantage: Agencies may perpetuate institutional disability discrimination by not offering temporary positions for […]

Making Equality Count

Conference is concerned that some police services have introduced workforce monitoring on sexual orientation without any consultation with UNISON or other staff unions, or with any clear purpose. Some police employers only liaise with the Gay Police Association and/or independent organisations that deal with leasbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, such as MESMAC (Men who […]

Representation on Service Group Standing Orders Committee

The scheme of representation to the Police Staff Service Group Conference Standing Orders Committee shall be amended as follows: 1)Each Region shall be eligible to nominate one suitably trained representative; 2)Two Representatives shall be drawn from the National Delegate Conference Standing Orders Committee; 3)Proportionality and fair representation to apply.

Christmas falling on a weekend

Conference is aware that there is a payment issue when Christmas Day, Boxing Day and/or New Years Day falls on a weekend. Staff, unlike officers, are only paid Bank Holiday rates for the days designated as Bank Holidays and can end up working the actual days with no additional payment. Following the last series which […]

Victims of Domestic Abuse

Conference believes our members are often placed in a vulnerable position when they are victims of domestic abuse. The employer tends to follow their own domestic abuse policy which relates to that of a service provider and not that of an employer. The absence of such policies often leaves our members open to further vulnerabilities […]

Police Staff Training

This Conference notes the importance of better training for Police Staff. Police Staff for many years have been treated differently from police officers when it comes to police training. This Conference calls upon the Police Staff Service Group to listen to police staff needs, and lead a campaign to identifying training needs, in particular in […]

White Ribbon Campaign

Conference condemns Domestic Violence and abuse in all forms and guises. Conference therefore instructs the Service Group Executive to support International White Ribbon Day on 25th November 2008 by circulating to all branches UNISON’s advice on dealing with Domestic Violence and abuse and an information sheet on the White Ribbon Campaign.

Disabled Police Staff – the poor relation?

This Conference is concerned that police staff struggle to get the same level of support offered to police officers. Reasonable adjustments are not easily available and little regard is taken in the Personal Development process to ensure that police staff are afforded appropriate opportunities to develop their careers and enjoy the range of job opportunities […]

Supporting Women in Education

Conference believes in promoting education for all, but often that is not the situation for our women members. They find themselves balancing their lives around home and work without the opportunity or encouragement to develop for themselves or their employment. UNISON within the East Midlands region has recently run a women’s lives course with a […]

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and the Police Federation

Conference notes that at the 2008 Police Federation Conference reference was made on a number of occasions in a negative manner to the role of Police Community Support Officers. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to request consultation and discussion with the Police Federation in relation to the role of PCSOs and the negative comments […]

MOONCUPS – GREETING OUR PERIODS

Conference notes the damage caused to the environment by non biodegradable sanitary products i.e. Tampons and Sanitary Pads. These products end up in landfill and all to often our oceans and watercourses. There is a simple solution to this problem – Mooncups. The Mooncup is a reusable menstrual cup around two inches long and made […]

THE CRISIS IN RAPE CRISIS

Conference is concerned at the lack of funding for women’s sector organisations which has resulted in the closure of much needed Rape Crisis centres. In 2007 only 32 Rape Crisis centres remained in England and Wales, compared to 84 in 1985, and in July 2007 it was estimated that half of these would be closed […]

TOWARDS A SUFFICIENT PENSION FOR ALL WOMEN

This conference recognises that it is a long established fact that women with caring responsibilities may suffer a detriment when they retire because of a reduction in pension. For many years, women’s choice has been between having a career and a comfortable retirement or raising their own children and being poor in retirement. Some women […]