UNISON Probation Structures

This Conference notes that the transfer of Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) staff to “The Probation Service” or Dynamic Framework Providers in June 2021 means it is necessary to change UNISON’s national structures for probation. Since the split of probation services in 2015, UNISON national structures have consisted of two sector committees for probation members in […]

LGBT+ Workers Health and Well Being

Conference notes that the police and justice sectors used to be equality trail-blazers in terms and conditions for staff and also in the quality, accessibility and inclusivity of health service delivery. This, coupled with a strong public service ethos, has contributed over the years to high numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+) […]

Non-Binary Uniforms

Conference notes that sex-specific uniform enforces unhelpful gender stereotypes by limiting personal and gender expression in the workplace. It also reinforces gendered expectations of behaviour within the workplace, such as who should take on the role of carer as opposed to leader. In a traditionally male dominated workplace, the effect is limiting for all workers. […]

Operation Hampshire

Policing has its inherent risks and police staff and officers face conflict and violence on a regular basis. Being assaulted at work is an operational risk but is not something that should be considered as acceptable or part of the job. Those working in the police service deserve, and have the right to full victim […]

Body Worn Video – The Right Equipment for the Job

The September 2020 Officer and Staff Safety Review and National Police Safety Survey undertaken by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing (CoP) was a comprehensive project to look at the risks associated with working in the police service and to crucially make bold recommendations to protect both those working in […]

For Fair Public Sector Funding And Against a Public Sector Pay Freeze

This Conference notes that during a time of international pandemic, once more local government workers rose to the occasion alongside other key workers in the NHS, care, transport and retail to keep essential services running and to support lockdown policies that were the front line in reducing infections and allowing time for a vaccine to […]

LGBT+ inclusive policies in Local Government

Conference acknowledges that even before Covid-19, equality was increasingly being seen as a luxury in many local government workplaces, with many employers barely abiding by the law. We must live up to our proud history and negotiate for LGBT+ equality to be included in all local government policies, practices and agreements. Conference recognises that local […]

LGBT+ workers health and well being

Conference notes that local government used to be an equality trail-blazer in terms and conditions for staff and also in the quality, accessibility and inclusivity of local government service delivery. This, coupled with a strong public service ethos, has contributed over the years to high numbers of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+) workers, […]

Homeworking as a reasonable adjustment in post-COVID local government workplaces

Conference notes that many disabled staff in local government have previously requested to work from home as a reasonable adjustment and been refused. However Covid-19 has sparked a revolution in home working and as a union we need to build on the positives for disabled workers whilst also guarding against any detrimental impact. UNISON�s National […]

Accessing reasonable adjustments during Covid-19

Conference notes that a UNISON survey of disabled members working from home during Covid-19, including local government workers, found that 53% did not receive any reasonable adjustments from their employer to help them to overcome the barriers they faced as a disabled person working from home. Only 5% had help from Access to Work, the […]

Developing and expanding social partnership and fair work in Wales and across the UK

UNISON Cymru/Wales supports the principle of a �Fair Work Nation�. As the largest trade union in Wales, we speak on behalf of around 100,000 members and their families and work with 49 affiliated unions through the Wales TUC. We strongly support the aims of Welsh government�s Draft Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill which […]

Facility Time in Schools

Conference notes that many branches are struggling to represent members in schools, particularly in those schools which have become academies. Both local authorities and the academy chains are putting restrictions on local authority employed staff representing members employed in academies. This has resulted in many reps using their own time to represent members, sometimes even […]

Local Government and Climate Breakdown

Conference recognises that: 1)The impacts of the climate emergency are already evident and have profoundly altered human and natural systems; 2)In the UK, we are witnessing more frequent and extreme weather events. In 2019, our communities experienced flooding and also summer heatwaves that resulted in nearly 900 excess deaths. There were more UK wildfires in […]

Standing Up to Violence, Harassment and Abuse of Local Government Staff

Conference recognises that UNISON members in local government are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the communities they work in, as shown by their incredible work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, many of our members are subject to an alarming increase in violence, abuse and harassment at work. After years of cuts […]

Reduction in the Working Week � Campaigning Across the Sectors

Conference notes that workplace stress is a massive and growing concern in local government. As the Local Government Association states: �Research shows that work is the biggest cause of stress in people’s lives, more so than debt or financial problems. Stress can stop people performing at their best and lead to physical illness and absence.� […]