Conference motions

This conference notes we are all likely to experience the difficult and stressful experience of losing a loved one. Conference recognises some of us may be fortunate in our workplaces to be offered paid bereavement leave, whereas many young workers may not be so lucky. Some young workers may need to take unpaid leave or […]

Conference notes that the way we work has changed since the pandemic, workplaces which never had a flexible working policy have now introduced this in many areas and this has been popular with many young members and can allow for a better work-life balance. It is important that employers adapt to the changing workforce and […]

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 […]

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, 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]