Activating Our Members

Conference notes that UNISON Rules provide for a lesbian and gay (L&G) group in every branch but, after ten years, there are still no groups in most branches. Rather what has emerged is a varied picture which includes: 1. branch Groups; 2. multi-branch groups on various models; 3. informal networks often led and organised by […]

Network Development in Rural Areas

Westnet is a UNISON Scotland lesbian and gay (L&G) forum which meets quarterly in the West of Scotland to promote, encourage and support L&G members in the area. Westnet encourages isolated members to come along and receive support in establishing their own groups and has successfully helped to establish groups within South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, […]

Working with other Lesbian and Gay Trade Unionists in Our Localities

Trades Union Councils bring together trade unions on a local basis and offer an opportunity for them to support one another and work together on common issues. They therefore offer the opportunity for lesbian and gay (L&G) trade unionists to work locally on a cross-union basis and for the trade union movement to make links […]

Employment Equality Regulations

Conference welcomes the implementation of workplace protection on the grounds of sexual orientation, whilst deploring the exemptions granted on religious grounds. Conference believes that this will allow discriminatory practices which will be far more widespread than is necessary for the maintenance of a religious faith extending to groups such as teachers and administrative staff. The […]

Working with STONEWALL

This Conference is proud of UNISON’s history of working in partnership with many organisations to campaign for equality for our members. This Conference is particularly proud of the close working relationship which the National Lesbian and Gay Committee (NLGC) has had with Stonewall over the years. This Conference notes that many organisations have been involved […]

Timing of Conference and of Annual Meetings of Members in the Service Groups

Conference notes that: 1.this Conference is timed to meet the deadline for motions for the Health Service Group Annual Conference. This means that motions for other service group annual conferences and for national delegate conference are agreed two or three months earlier than need be so; 2.the Local Government Service Group has agreed to move […]

Discrimination – Homelessness Provision

This Conference is concerned about discrimination faced by unmarried couples within homelessness provision within the greater Glasgow area and no doubt other areas throughout the UK. It appears that the major providers, including the City’s Hamish Allen Centre, cannot or will not process two people as a couple unless they can prove this, either by […]

Celebrating Our Milestones

Conference recognises the recent successes in working towards lesbian and gay (L&G) equality (most notably an equal age of consent, implementation of the Human Rights Act, laws on workplace discrimination, tenancy and adoption rights, the repeal of Section 28, the repeal of discriminatory sexual offences discrimination and the publication of Government proposals for the recognition […]

Strathclyde Police Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Surgery

Conference notes that Strathclyde Police has introduced a monthly police surgery within the Glasgow Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Centre located in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre. This surgery was introduced in September 2002 with two main aims: to improve the provision of a police service for the LGBT community and to raise […]

Progress in the Police

Conference welcomes the progress being made by the majority of UK Police Forces in accepting diversity in all its forms but particularly in its final realisation that gay men and lesbians do, and should, be represented proportionally within its ranks. Conference applauds the brave lesbians and gay men who have, over the years fought to […]

Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)

Conference notes the establishment of the IPCC by the Police Reform Act 2002. Conference supports the creation of an independent and credible agency to investigate complaints against police personnel. Conference welcomes the necessary involvement of UNISON in the Home Office Working Parties setting up the structure of the IPCC and the way in which it […]

Fair Pay for Police Staff

Conference notes that threshold payment for police officers have recently been introduced. This scheme offers an additonal £1,002 to some Federated ranks, which is pensionable and will be updated annually. Conference also notes that there are other additional payments available for Federated ranks. No such payments exist for police staff. This is cleary unfair and […]

Better Funding for the Police Service

Conference notes the proliferation of short-term funding for initiatives such as CSOs and the DNA expansion project. Conference also notes that this type of funding can have a negative impact on the conditions of service of police staff and results in job insecurity. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to lobby the Home Office to […]

Ending Discrimination in Pension Provision

Conference notes that the issue of pensions has never been so much in the public eye, with widespread concern about the ability of schemes to deliver security in retirement. Conference further notes that Water and Environment Agency members belong to a number of different pensions schemes, which have different terms and conditions. Conference welcomes the […]

Environment Agency Pension Regulations

This Conference seeks to change the law to ensure all unmarried partners receive the same benefits through the Environment Pension Scheme as married couples. Since the introduction of the Scheme Society has changed and the pension regulations should be urgently reviewed and amended to reflect these demographic changes. In today’s society there is no reason […]