OPTICAL AND DENTAL PROVISION

Conference recognises that ageing brings about the natural need for more optical and dental care. The costs of these essential services are constantly rising whilst pension increases lag well behind. Furthermore, dental care on the NHS is hardly available. More than five million pensioners are now subject to the means test for help to purchase […]

PENSIONS

Conference considers that the present cost of utilities – electricity, gas and water charges, are disproportionate for pensioners whose income is limited. Conference believes that the best way to alleviate the effect of these charges upon pensioners is to fully restore the value of the state pension and the restoration of the earnings link to […]

SCREENING OF BLOOD DONORS

This conference notes that the purpose of the blood services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood. Screening of blood donors for HIV is necessary for the safety of the blood supply because the available tests for screening donated blood for HIV are not infallible, […]

RULE D4.5.2 SELF-ORGANISED GROUPS

In Rule D4.5.2 After “other initiatives to the Regional Council”, delete: “or Regional Committee.” And replace with: “and Regional Committee.”

WHO BENEFITS? IMPLICATIONS OF THE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2004

Conference welcomes the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 [CPA] which recognises our partnerships and families. However, conference notes that same-sex co-habiting couples who choose not to register their partnerships will have obligations in respect of claiming welfare benefits. Conference notes that disabled and black LGBT members are more likely to be low paid […]

HIV/AIDS

Conference notes that in the UK, people living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination and harassment at work and within wider society. HIV/ AIDS has always been a workplace – and a trade union – issue. From December 2005, workers living with HIV will be covered by the anti-discrimination provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act from the […]

SUPPORTING LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS

This Conference believes: 1.To be LGBT remains illegal in many countries across the world, with LGBT people facing life prison sentences, beatings, rape, torture and even death; 2.Even in countries where the state does not officially sanction severe repression of LGBT people, homophobia and transphobia can be brutally rife; 3.The UK Asylum system should provide […]

HOMOPHOBIA IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR

Conference notes with concern growing levels of homophobia – particularly against young people – and the refusal of most schools and other education facilities to acknowledge that discrimination and inequality is an issue. Figures indicate that 72% of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual adults reported a regular history of absenteeism at school due to homophobic harassment. […]

LGBT CAMPAIGN GUIDE

This Conference notes the recent successful campaigns around LGBT issues, notably the campaign in favour of the LGBT rule change and our successes over Civil Partnerships and Pension rights and believes we can apply the lessons from these successful campaigns to campaign more successfully in the future. Conference believes that we still confront many challenges […]

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE

Conference welcomes the public service provided by the provision of Travel Advice by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on the internet. In providing this public service, the FCO aims to ensure that British Travellers are well prepared. The advice given includes sections on Safety and Security, Health and Local Laws and Customs. The Local […]

JAMAICA

Conference recalls the resolution of the Twelfth National Lesbian and Gay Conference deploring homophobic violence in Jamaica and supporting the work of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (JFLAG). Conference welcomes this self-organised group’s continuing work on this issue and that of others and it urges branch and regional Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and […]

CONFRONTING ISLAMOPHOBIA

Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, there has been an increase in racist incidents and Islamophobia as a result of a neo-conservative strategy, on a world scale, to provoke a new cold war between the west and Islam and pursue an aggressive military policy in the Middle East. Conference is concerned that this […]

DELIVERING THE GOODS

Conference welcomes the increased level of protection provided by the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 in the areas of employment and training, but notes with concern that the same level of protection does not exist in relation to the provision of goods, facilities and services to LGBT people. Conference notes with regret that the […]

TRADES UNION CONGRESS GENERAL COUNCIL

Conference notes that: 1.Following earlier changes to secure the representation of Black trades unionists, in 2001 the Trades Union Congress (TUC) General Council was further enlarged to include three new sections, H, I and J, each consisting of one seat and representing, respectively, trades unionists with disabilities, Lesbian and Gay trades unionists and trades unionists […]

INCREASING POSITIVE LESBIAN PARTICIPATION WITHIN UNISON LGBT SELF-ORGANISED GROUPS AND THE NATIONAL LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMITTEE

Conference is deeply concerned about the low level of positive Lesbian participation within UNISON and the lack of Lesbian proportionality within the LGBT SOGs and the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee. Some groups of lesbians are particularly under-represented, including black and disabled lesbians. UNISON has over one million women members, research suggests that […]