Organising Migrant Workers in the UK

Conference applauds the work that UNISON has done recently in respect of organising, representing, protecting and supporting migrant workers. Conference calls on UNISON to continue its positive response to inward migration, and to take this opportunity to recruit and organise these, often vulnerable, workers. UNISON has provided recruitment and information materials in several languages, set […]

Schedule B 2 Rule Book Benefits

Sch B 2.8 Fatal Accident Benefit Delete paragraph 2.8.2 Entitlement , and replace with “2.8.2 Entitlement Completed years of continued membership £ Under 5 years 1,750 Over 5 and less than 15 3,500 Over 15 and less than 25 5,250 Over 25 7,000”

D6 Retired Members’ Organisation

D.6.4 After “Regional Retired Members” delete “Forum” and replace with “Committee” D.6.5 Delete “Retired Members’ Forum” and replace with “Regional Retired Members’ Committee” F.4 Regional Council F.4.3.3 Delete “Retired Members’ Forum” and replace with “Retired Members’ Committee” throughout F.4.4.3 and F.4.4.4 Delete “Retired Members’ Forum” and replace with “Regional Retired Members’ Committee F.5 Regional Committee […]

Child Poverty/Anti Poverty Strategy

Conference acknowledges the fact that the number of children growing up in poverty has fallen by 700,000 since 1997, but notes that if the target of reducing the level of child poverty to half the level of 1998/99 by 2010-11 is to be met a further one million children will need to be lifted out […]

D2.4 Additional Members’ Seats

Rule D.2.4 Delete “Additional Members’ Seats” and replace with “Black Members’ Seats”

Public Services in the Developing World

UNISON, one of the largest public service trade unions in the world, is rightly proud of its strong record on championing quality public services and challenging privatisation in the UK. We also have a long history of international solidarity with sister unions around the world. These two aspects of our work are inextricably linked. In […]

Marketisation of Public Services

Conference believes that the marketisation of public services threatens the advances that have been made in the last 10 years, brought about as a result of a major investment and reform programme resulting in a dramatic cut in NHS waiting lists and waiting times, rising school standards, falling crime, safer communities and improvements in local […]

Attacks on Public Sector Workers: Violence Against Staff

The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 now provides greater protection in law for all emergency workers. A person guilty of an offence under this Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine. The Act follows the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 which made it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder someone providing […]

Charter for Change for LGBT Equality

Conference welcomes advances in legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. These include Gender Recognition and Civil Partnership, outlawing of sexual orientation discrimination in goods, facilities and services and the promised Single Equality Act, which should enact duties across all grounds to actively promote equality as well as combat discrimination. However, disadvantage and […]

Access to Work

Conference welcomes the intention of the government to give greater assistance for disabled people and those suffering ill health who seek access to work. However it notes with concern that part of the government’s plans for the reform of Incapacity Benefit and replacement by an Employment and Support Allowance involve A) the potential for sanctions […]

Pensions White Paper and Restoration of the Link

Conference notes that on 25 May 2006 the government published a Pensions White Paper setting out how it planned to implement the recommendations of the Turner Report. The White Paper contains some positive proposals intended to increase the value of the state pension in the light of the decline of many occupational pensions and include […]

Mental Health Legislation

Conference welcomes some positive aspects of the Mental Health Bill that intend to make mental health services more able to respond to the complex, emotional and medical needs of people experiencing mental ill health. However, Conference is concerned that: 1)the proposed increased use of Community Detention Orders may jeopardise opportunities for disabled people to become […]

Rise of BNP

Conference notes the: 1)rise of the British National Party (BNP) in the West Midlands and across the country; 2)joint work carried out with Searchlight and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) in campaigning against the BNP; 3)positive steps forward in working with other trade unions and establishing local activists and neighbourhood activities to combat the BNP; 4)establishment […]

Definition of Violence Against Women

Research at national and international level has consistently shown that domestic violence is a form of gender specific violence. The recent report into violence against women by the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) acknowledges the role of violence against women in perpetuating the subordination of women in all societies throughout the globe. Violence […]

Cuba

Conference congratulates UNISON’s International Department and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign on producing the excellent ‘Made in Cuba’ pack about Cuba’s unique health service and its international solidarity work in the Caribbean and Pakistan. Cuba’s achievements, internationalism and resistance to United States (US) backed aggression has become an example and source of inspiration among nations throughout […]