Conference is reminded that two-thirds of UNISON’s police members are women. This is in line with the gender profile of UNISON’s membership nationally. UNISON as a national union is committed to removing all forms of discrimination from the workplace. And the removal of pay discrimination is high on UNISON’s list of priorities. Conference welcomes the […]
Conference motions
Conference notes with concern that politician and media references to public services tend to be limited to nurses and teachers or in this last year fire-fighters. UNISON’s largest service group, those who work in local government, have a wide diversity of jobs, but are rarely mentioned. Conference believes that imbalance of awareness needs to be […]
Conference condemns the Government’s rating system for local authorities as little more than an attempt to divert public attention away from the real issue of prolonged under-funding. A league table of ratings is so general and simplistic that it will not even provide a realistic basis for identifying to the public which individual pieces within […]
This Conference notes with concern the continued practice of ring fencing local government finance to initiatives decided by National Governments. The practice of ring fencing has a number of negative effects on local government and these include: 1)The fact that such money is often dressed up in the media as new money for existing services […]
Conference notes the continuing commitment of UNISON members in Local Government to improving the quality of services provided to local communities. UNISON members work with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in these communities and are fully aware of the need for improvements in the range, quantity and quality of services provided. This is necessary […]
This Conference notes with delight the change of heart by this Labour Government on the two – tier workforce. However, Conference asks the Service Group Executive to make absolutely certain that the term ‘Local Government’ embraces Police Authorities.
This Conference is concerned that Disabled ethnic minority workers experience double disadvantage because of failures in recruitment processes within Police Staffs. Whilst there is a drive to recruit ethnic minorities within the police, there is no focus on targeting disabled ethnic minority staff. Many forces appear to have taken no initiatives to improve the employment […]
This Service Group Conference instructs the Police Staff Service Group Executive to take the necessary steps through PSSC, ACPO and HMIC to work towards the removal of mandatory punitive sanctions, when used as part of managing attendance policies. Such punitive measures as bans on overtime, promotion and career changes. This would remove the principal inherent […]
Conference notes that a large proportion of the 6% of Black and Minority Ethnic Workers (BME) who work in the public sector work directly for or indirectly with local Government and believes that the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (RRAA) provides UNISON with an opportunity to improve the recruitment and organisation of black members. Conference […]
Conference recognises the serious impact on the powers and democratic freedoms of local authorities as a result of the general Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). We believe GATS will have a serious impact on a range of services including Education and Social Services. In particular, GATS will over-ride local negotiations and contractual conditions agreed […]
Conference notes that section 95 of the Police Reform Act has moved the overall responsibilities for Health and Safety from Chief Constables to Police Authorities. This issue will have a major impact on all Police Authorities in England and Wales. It is not clear how this change in arrangements should be dealt with from a […]
This Conference instructs the National Service Group to draw up a consultation document on the issue of the circumstances under which a National Sector Committee is able to suspend industrial action in response to an improved offer. The consultation document to set out current policy and invite comments and amendments from regions, branches, national sector […]
This Conference applauds the action of UNISON members in local government in both organising and delivering effective strike action in such overwhelming numbers on 17 July 2002 in pursuit of the local government pay claim. However, this Conference expresses intense concern about the decision by the Trade Union Side of the National Joint Council (endorsed […]
Conference notes that in October 2002 the Government published draft regulations required by the European Union Employment Directive which will outlaw workplace discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and of religion and belief from December 2003. Conference further notes that the Employers Organisation has published a brief guide to the main provisions of the […]
Conference notes that: 1)harassment of lesbian and gay workers in the police service continues to be a major problem; 2)one tactic is use of the media to smear lesbian and gay workers, such as happened with Commander Brian Paddick; 3)often local papers and radio stations run such stories or carry letters attacking the dignity of […]