Economy

Conference notes that fall out from the crisis in the financial sector, internationally and domestically, is leading to reduced predictions of economic growth this year and a possible increase in unemployment. Conference notes that this may put further pressure on public services as tax revenues available for investment are reduced and spending on social security […]

The Changing Structures of Local Service Provision

Conference notes that the world of local services in England is undergoing major change as a result of recent legislation affecting local government and local public transport. Councils and health trusts, police authorities and youth services, the Environment Agency and passenger transport authorities have to get together to plan, deliver, and monitor and commission services. […]

Elder Abuse: Human Rights in Private Care Homes

Conference deplores the decision of the House of Lords in the YL case that human rights legislation does not extend to elderly people in private care homes. This decision was taken despite evidence of human rights abuses such as residents being fed breakfast while seated on the toilet and care home residents not being given […]

Vulnerable Migrant Workers

Conference recognises that migration continues to be an important issue in all parts of the UK. Migrant workers make an essential contribution to the delivery of public services and to the overall economic wellbeing of the UK. Yet all too often this contribution is ignored and migrants are scapegoated for inadequate funding and provision of […]

Rule K 2 (i) Legal Assistance Qualifications

Rule K 2(i) Delete and replace with: “2(i) The member must have been in membership of the Union for at least 4 weeks prior to the member knowing that she/he had need of legal assistance and seeks legal assistance from the Union.”

Funding the Equal Pay Challenge

Conference agrees that spending should meet UNISON’s organising objectives and priorities. A principle priority is combating pay inequalities and securing equal pay for work of equal value for all our members, in properly evaluated and negotiated framework agreements. Conference notes that establishing equal pay for our members was one of the founding principles of the […]

Violence and Agression Against Staff

Conference believes that violence and aggression against staff is not part of the job. UNISON is commited to campaigning for tougher measures so that all public service workers are afforded the same levels of protection as that given to the police. Conference notes that as a consequence of this campaign there has been growing public […]

Moving Beyond the Two-Tier Workforce

Conference notes that there have been at least six different agreements in operation that attempt to protect the terms and conditions of staff working for contractors on public service contracts, including new starters. They each apply to different sectors, devolved administrations, occupational groups whilst some sectors do not even have this minimalist protection (eg Academies, […]

Democracy – Review of UNISON Guidelines

Conference reaffirms its decision of 1998, confirming the right to organise, campaign and communicate to change, modify or replace policy through the constitutional channels of the union, while acting within agreed union policy. Conference reaffirms its view that this right is universal and includes: 1)the right of branches, regions, service groups and self-organised groups to […]

‘Flexicurity’

Conference notes that the term ‘flexicurity’ and its basic principles have been adopted by European Union (EU) leaders when on the 13th December 2007 they rubberstampted the renamed EU constitution in Lisbon, Portugal. This term has been introduced by the European Commission to suggest that if a worker accepts flexibility, job security at work will […]

Public Sector Pension Funds – Responsible Contractor Investment Policy

Conference notes that the pension funds of UNISON members, particularly those in Local Government and Higher Education are increasingly invested in companies and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects that deliver public services under a contract to a public body. Many of these companies employ UNISON members working on such contracts. Because of such pension fund […]

NOT FOR SALE

This conference is pleased to note the research commissioned by Harriet Harman as part of her key priorities. This report published on Tuesday 29th January 2008 confirms that advertising women for sex is widespread in local and regional newspapers. Three quarters of the papers examined for the research carried advertisements for women or services offered […]

COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Conference applauds the Law Lords for their landmark decision on 30 January 2008 ruling that courts will in future have discretion to extend the six-year limit for claimants in cases of deliberate assaults. Conference congratulates Mrs A for her persistence in pursuing this for 20 years and supports her in her claim for substantial damages […]

ABORTION RIGHTS

Conference notes the announcement in the Queens Speech in November 2007 that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would start its progress through the House of Lords almost immediately and would be debated in the House of Commons in the Spring of 2008. Whilst not the primary focus of this piece of legislation, the first […]

Rule B 1 At Work and in the Community

Rule B.1 Add new B.1.12 “12. To promote and pursue environmental sustainability in all our work.”