Employer Recognition of Branch Self- Organised Members’ Groups

Conference is concerned that employers do not recognise UNISON’s self-organised groups. As a result members are not allowed paid time off to attend meetings during work time. For the self-organised group this makes it difficult for members to get involved and to play an active part in trying to raise issues within UNISON. It is […]

Discrimination against part-time staff in the electricity supply pension scheme

The ruling determined by the House of Lords, that the Electricity Supply Pension Schemes had discriminated against part-timers by denying them access to the pension scheme, means that may UNISON members will see their pensions fully restored. This is undoubtedly excellent news, but requires positive action by our Employers. As this action is not forthcoming, […]

Organising Young Members

Conference notes that young members are at present not represented at all levels of the union. Conference believes: 1) that the way forward to improve young people’s participation and membership is to incorporate young members to the very heart of the union by co-opting a young member on to the National Executive Council; 2)that the […]

Freedom and Justice for Samar and Jawad

Conference notes that: 1) Samar Alami and Jawad Botmeh were wrongly convicted in 1996 of conspiracy to cause explosions in relation to the 1994 bombings of the Israeli Embassy and Balfour House and they were sentenced to 20 years; 2) a campaign to have the convictions overturned has achieved widespread support here and abroad, including […]

Rule F.1 List of Regions

Delete “13” and replace with “12” Delete “Southern”

Employment Rights for Women With Premature Babies

Under the current legislation, a woman giving birth to a premature baby that requires hospitalisation finds she has the same amount of maternity leave as the mother of a baby that can go home. Conference recognises the additional stress on mothers and their families trying to cope with babies who have yet to come home. […]

Funding for Social Services

This Conference wishes to applaud the efforts of all those who work in social care providing crucial services to the most vulnerable members of our communities. We believe that it is only the dedication of these workers which has kept services running while government and employers have failed to provide the leadership and the funding […]

Local Government Service Group Executive Report

This Conference receives the report of the Local Government Service Group Executive.

Workforce Training and Development

Conference notes that the government’s emphasis on improvement in local government service delivery continues. While Conference supports the call for top quality public services, Conference also believes that an increase in investment in local government workforce development and training is central to the improvement of local government services. Conference welcomes the joint work with the […]

Non-Standard and Unsocial Hours Working

This Conference is aware that many local government workers are in “24/7” services working irregular and demanding shifts where “flexibility” is all on the employers side and little or no compensation is made for the disruption in family life and the bad effects on health. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to investigate the amount […]

Recruitment and Retention of Young Workers in Local Government

Conference notes: 1)That the crisis in recruitment and retention of staff in the public sector has recently been identified by the Audit Commission report “Recruitment and Retention: A public services workforce for the 21st Century”. 2)That this crisis is particularly acute in local government where 75% of councils surveyed nationally by UNISON report difficulties in […]

Health and Work of Older Women

Twelve million women in the United Kingdom are aged 45 or over and the number is increasing. Many of these women spend longer in paid employment, making an important contribution to the economy and public services. Unfortunately, little interest has been taken in the impact this has had on this neglected group’s physical, emotional and […]

Breast Cancer Screening Challenge Campaign

Conference is concerned at the ever-increasing number of women suffering from breast cancer and the postcode lottery of treatment and survival rates that still operate throughout the United Kingdom and blights women’s lives. Conference is concerned that women living in rural areas/small towns are only invited for breast cancer screening when the mobile unit is […]

Regional Organisation in Further Education & Sixth Form Colleges

This Conference congratulates its members working in further education colleges on the first national strike across the sector. It notes their success in achieving an improved offer for members despite continued intransigence from the employer’s side. However, the Conference recognises the need to build on the success of this action to improve levels of organisation […]

Exigencies of Service

That this Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to investigate and make recommendations as to the definition of the term ‘exigencies’ in the Police Support Staff Council Handbook and/or similarly seeks an alternative word or phrase which brings clarity and removes ambiguity from its intention. This work should also run in parallel with the review […]