ILGA EUROPE

Conference congratulates UNISON for it’s participation in ILGA Europe and recognises the important role ILGA Europe has in advising and campaigning on behalf of the citizens of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Conference recognises that as the European Union states have developed that the constitutional structure of the UK has also developed into […]

The Issue of Racism in the Twentieth Century

Conference notes the recent BBC programme blowing the whistle by extremists among Greater Manchester Police recruits. A member of one of the Manchester Local Authority equal opportunity forums indicated that he was horrified that one of the forums had not met in over a year at a time when equal opportunities and race issues are […]

Asserting Rights Under Race Relations Act(s)

Text removed for legal reasons

TUPE

Conference is concerned about the problems linked to complaints about racism in the workplace and the delays in addressing those complaints because employers seek to flout their responsibilities under the TUPE regulations. More public services are being transferred out of local authority control and as a result staff are now finding themselves based in the […]

Inclusivity

To promote a more cohesive and inclusive relationship between black members in the regions and the National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC), Conference instructs the NBMC to: 1)prioritise the action plan for the following 12 months, based on the motions passed at the National Black Members Conference at the first meeting of the newly elected NBMC; […]

Promoting Equality Increasing National Black Members’ Committee Motions to National Delegate Conference

Conference notes that since the formation of UNISON vesting day self-organised groups have been enabled to send two motions to our union’s sovereign decision-making body, its National Delegate Conference, which takes place annually every June. Conference, the National Black Members’ Committee feels that in order for self-organised groups to be more effective at UNISON’s National […]

Raising the Profile of Lesbian and Gay Self- Organisation in Colleges of Further Education

This Conference welcomes the call in the resolution “Branch, Steward and Workplace Organisation” of 2003 National Delegate Conference for the development of a programme of improving organisation in further education (FE) colleges. Conference believes that this programme should include initiatives to raise the profile of self-organisation in FE colleges and to encourage participation by FE […]

Celebrating Our Milestones and Challenging Inequality

Conference celebrates the recent successes in working towards lesbian and gay (L&G) equality. In particular we have seen the introduction of an equal age of consent, implementation of the Human Rights Act, protection against workplace discrimination, improved tenancy and adoption rights, the repeal of Section 28, the repeal of discriminatory sexual offences legislation and the […]

Young Lesbians and Gay Men – the Need for a National Strategy

Conference notes that young lesbians and gay men are six times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. They are also more likely to succeed so they account for over half of actual youth suicide in the UK. Conference therefore welcomes the repeal of Section 28 as the single most effective step to […]

Homophobic Bullying in Schools and Isolation of Lesbian and Gay Students

Conference welcomes the end of Section 28, which was finally repealed receiving royal assent on September 18th, and notes the very long campaign for its repeal amongst the lesbian and gay (L&G) community and the broader labour movement. Conference in particular highlights the role played by trade unions in keeping up the pressure on the […]

Making Policy and Carrying it out

This Conference notes that: 1.following each National Lesbian and Gay Conference the National Lesbian and Gay Committee (NLGC) prepares an action plan on the decisions of Conference (Conference Action Report) which includes action points for branch and regional lesbian and gay (L&G) groups. However, this document is drawn up on the basis of the action […]

Workplace Bullying

Conference notes with concern the 2002 Industrial Relations Society report, which reveals that workplace bullying has replaced pay as the main complaint by workers. Conference also recognises that homophobic bullying and harassment at work is a major detriment to many lesbians and gay men and this is furthr exacerbated for black and disabled lesbians and […]

Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003

Conference welcomes the advice from the Joint Select Committee on Statutory Instruments regarding the proposed Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003. Conference notes the Select Committee’s advice that the regulations do not comply with the European Directive in relation to Regulation 7(3) regarding religion or belief. Conference is dismayed that the Government has chosen to ignore the […]

Pride not Profit

Conference notes that UNISON no longer sponsors national Pride following policy decisions and concerns expressed by Lesbian and Gay members over the commercialism involved. Conference is aware that UNISON participated in Pride in the Park this year by holding a stall in the Trades Union Congress (TUC) marquee. Conference recognises the importance of such a […]

Facility Time for Lesbian and Gay Activists

Conference agrees that lesbian and gay work within the union should have equal status with branch stewards’ and health and safety work and the work of those involved in other self organised groups and should therefore be afforded facility time. Conference calls on the General Secretary to write to all branches reiterating the above and […]