National Health Service Records

Conference notes with concern that there is evidence from UNISON Transgender members that the National Health Service (NHS) is still mismanaging personal data. Despite best efforts to create a single medical record system, there exists independent personal records information held by autonomous systems within the NHS which holds data about transgender persons former or previous […]

Defending Our Human Rights

Conference notes that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) self organised group has long been a defender of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), recognising its importance in making LGBT human rights real. This is particularly with regard to our rights to family life, freedom of association, freedom of expression and protection from discrimination. […]

Defending Services For Young Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People

This Conference is appalled by the rising number of services for young people which are either closing or being cut back at a time when they are needed more than ever to support young people in finding employment and to support them in their personal development. This Conference believes that young people are being targeted […]

Joined Up Equalities Information

UNISON has an excellent record in supporting Self Organised Groups (SOGs). This can not only be a good way of encouraging people from under-represented groups from joining and becoming active in the union. One of the many ways that UNISON reaches out to publicise the benefits in our union is to attend festivals such as […]

Tackling Trans Workers’ Unemployment

Conference is dismayed at the continuing difficulty faced by many trans people in finding and keeping paid employment. Conference notes that while it is not easy to challenge discrimination while you are in a job, it is even more difficult to challenge discrimination in recruitment. High levels of unemployment amongst trans people are rising higher […]

Encouraging Bi Equality Training in Workplaces

As biphobia is still rife in most workplaces, Conference calls on the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Committee, in liaison with the Bisexual Members’ Caucus, to develop UNISON’s materials on tackling biphobia, promoting bi equality and the need for bi awareness training in workplaces. Conference further calls on branch and regional LGBT groups […]

Still Fighting For Equality

Conference welcomes the introduction of the Equality Act 2010 under the Labour government but notes with heavy heart that the specific public sector equality duties were delayed and reviewed by the conservative-led coalition government. Conference notes that there is unlikely to be any further legislative gains under this government. Conference notes that – for now […]

Save Strathclyde Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Switchboard

Strathclyde Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Switchboard is the last LGBT Switchboard in Scotland open 7 nights a week, every day of the year. The service provides support to LGBT people with a wide range of problems and provides a listening ear to all who call. The service is run by LGBT volunteers. The […]

Stopping Public Sector Pension Hacking

Conference believes that this government needs to learn to have some respect for hardworking public sector workers and we know a thing or two about respect. The quick fix hacking axe of the coalition government is decimating public services and ruining people’s lives. We will not allow government to hack away our hard earned pensions, […]

Localism Bill, Religious Exemption and Discrimination

Conference notes that: 1.The Localism Bill is aimed at ‘a radical shift of power from Westminster to local people, increasing citizen participation, promoting community ownership, lifting inspection burdens on councils and removing regional government’. 2.The ‘Community Right to Challenge’ is presented as a measure to encourage the involvement of charities, social enterprises or employee mutuals […]

Glasgow Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre

Conference remembers the fantastic hospitality enjoyed during Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Conference 2007 at the Glasgow LGBT Centre. Conference is disappointed to learn that, for various reasons, this facility has been withdrawn, leaving a huge gap in the provision of services for LGBT people in Glasgow. Conference notes that Glasgow City Council announced […]

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Black Members – Increasing Participation and Representation

Conference notes the good work that has been achieved in self organisation and representation for Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) members at a national level. However, there is still a disproportionate amount of Black LGBT members represented at regional delegation level at National LGBT Conference, within regional LGBT groups and markedly so at […]

Not Delivering on the Equality Act and Attacks on the Equality and Human Rights Commission

Conference welcomed the approval of the Equality Act in 2010, the final legislative act of the last Labour government. But this Tory-led government has shown that they are not committed to equalities. Savage public service cuts are affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) workers and provisions for LGBT service users. This government is backtracking […]

ILGA – GET INVOLVED

Conference welcomes the fact that the UK is now at the top of ILGA Europe’s league table for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equality. Conference notes that the United Kingdom gets credit for Scotland being the only European jurisdiction with trans-inclusive hate crime law. These achievements highlight the importance of UNISON’s continual active participation […]

Local Government Cuts

Conference, over the last two years we have seen an unprecedented attack on public services, jobs, pay and conditions. We must remember that local government staff and service users are not the cause, greed within the banking industry is, but the Public Sector are having to pay for their greed. We have seen the biggest […]