Conference notes with concern a shortage of young members and activists in UNISON. Young members represent just 5% of the whole UNISON membership and only 2% of activists. Conference also notes that the average age of a UNISON activist is 48 years old. With only a small number of young activists and an aging activist […]
Conference motions
Conference notes that other unions, including Unite, RMT, and GMB, define young members as any member aged 30 or under. These unions have increased the age limit for their young members to reflect both the changing perceptions and realities of being a young worker in the 21st Century. Conference also notes that the average age […]
Young members in UNISON tend to make up some of the lowest paid workers, often in junior or apprenticeship positions. They are on the sharpest edge of the mounting cost of living crisis that will see many workers choosing between heating and eating this winter. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) notes that the average annual […]
Conference, we welcome the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender plus (LGBT+) national committee’s campaign on transgender (trans) equality and the passing of the Trans Equality – Louder and Prouder motion at this year’s National Delegate Conference. We can be proud that our trade union is leading the labour movement in creating inclusive workplaces for trans and […]
Conference, we welcome the establishment of the young Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender plus (LGBT+) campaign by the national LGBT+ committee. This campaign will help support and develop young LGBT+ members where young members continue to be underrepresented as stewards, representatives, and officials. This is especially needed as there are currently no young members on […]
As trade unionists, we shouldn’t just concern ourselves with the struggle in our workplaces but the struggle internationally. It is vital that we speak out and support campaigns that call to end the illegal blockade on Cuba that makes their lives unimaginably difficult; an end to the US occupation of Cuban Land; to defend the […]
In 2016 the TUC released the “Still Just a Bit of Banter?” report into sexual harassment in the workplace. The report focused specifically on the sexual harassment of women and its key findings included • 52% of all women polled had experienced some form of sexual harassment. • 35% per cent of women have heard […]
Following decades of failures to address the lack of affordable housing in the UK we now have a crisis where young people are increasingly facing vulnerable housing situations. A lack of affordable housing is not just a young person issue. It is a public service issue. More and more public service staff can no longer […]
Conference recognises that young Black workers are hard to find in our union. There is a huge gap between numbers of young Black members and number of young Black activists. We are an aging union and succession planning is vital, particularly in Black member self-organisation. The barriers to participation include lack of knowledge about Black […]
Conference notes that many young UNISON members engage in shift work, especially those working in health and social care settings, most of which involve taking on shifts at unsocial hours. That while undertaking this shift work, staff can be left in vulnerable positions, especially if they are working alone, and if they are travelling to […]
Conference welcomes the partial ban on conversion therapy announced in the Queen’s Speech in May 2022 that targeted ‘abhorrent conversion therapy practices’. Not abhorrent enough to extend to our trans siblings over 18. Apparently, the rights of trans people are part of a ‘balancing act’ that needs ‘careful management’. Not empathy, not protection, but ‘careful […]
Conference notes the excellent work done by the national LGBT+ committee in strongly campaigning for the rights of trans and non-binary workers. Conference believes UNISON has led the way across our movement in defending the rights of trans workers and celebrating the importance of trans and non-binary people in the trade union movement. Nonetheless, conference […]
Conference notes that one of UNISON’s main aims is ‘to seek to ensure equality of treatment and fair representation for all members and to work for the elimination of discrimination on grounds of race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, disability, age or creed’. To achieve this, UNISON seeks for branches to have equality co-ordinators, whose role […]
Conference notes that a workplace that actively encourages Equality Diversity and Inclusion is more successful, can help to keep employees happy and motivated, prevents serious or legal issues arising, such as bullying, harassment and discrimination and will attract and keep good staff. Conference also notes that where LGBT+ members and their allies continue to fight […]
Conference acknowledges that one of UNISON’s strengths lies in its recognition of the value and unique experiences LGBT+ people bring to the workplace and to our union and commends the work of UNISON’s LGBT+ committee to raise the profile of its LGBT+ membership across the United Kingdom (UK). Despite the work that has been done […]