Conference notes that: 1.For several years until 2003 UNISON National Lesbian and Gay Conferences offered a facility for regional delegation meetings on Friday and Saturday evenings though some regional delegations chose to meet only on Friday; 2.In 2004 the facility for Saturday evening regional delegation meetings was withdrawn without consultation with every regional Lesbian and […]
Conference motions
Conference welcomes the provision for statutory paternity leave but notes with concern the low level of take up. Conference considers this is explained by: 1.The level of statutory paternity pay, currently a maximum of £106.00 per week; 2.Limited eligibility – restricted to the baby’s father or the partner of a woman on maternity leave; and, […]
Conference notes the publication of “Homophobia – Taking No Pride in Prejudice” by Glasgow City Council as part of its commitment to address all forms of prejudice and discrimination in Glasgow. Conference congratulates Glasgow City Council for this excellent piece of research which raises awareness of homophobia and its effects on the lives of Lesbians […]
Conference applauds efforts already made by individual members, branch and regional groups, branches and the National LGBT Committee to promote the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 [‘The Regulations’]. Conference is concerned, however, that a large number of members, stewards and branch officers are still unaware of the provisions of ‘The Regulations’. Further, in order […]
Conference welcomes the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 [CPA] which recognises our partnerships and families. However, conference notes that same-sex co-habiting couples who choose not to register their partnerships will have obligations in respect of claiming welfare benefits. Conference notes that disabled and black LGBT members are more likely to be low paid […]
Conference notes that in the UK, people living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination and harassment at work and within wider society. HIV/ AIDS has always been a workplace – and a trade union – issue. From December 2005, workers living with HIV will be covered by the anti-discrimination provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act from the […]
This Conference believes: 1.To be LGBT remains illegal in many countries across the world, with LGBT people facing life prison sentences, beatings, rape, torture and even death; 2.Even in countries where the state does not officially sanction severe repression of LGBT people, homophobia and transphobia can be brutally rife; 3.The UK Asylum system should provide […]
Conference notes with concern growing levels of homophobia – particularly against young people – and the refusal of most schools and other education facilities to acknowledge that discrimination and inequality is an issue. Figures indicate that 72% of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual adults reported a regular history of absenteeism at school due to homophobic harassment. […]
This Conference notes the recent successful campaigns around LGBT issues, notably the campaign in favour of the LGBT rule change and our successes over Civil Partnerships and Pension rights and believes we can apply the lessons from these successful campaigns to campaign more successfully in the future. Conference believes that we still confront many challenges […]
In Standing Order 7.1: After ‘delegates to Conference’: Replace the comma with a full stop; and, Delete ‘or who are members’ and substitute ‘Members’; and, After ‘Lesbian’: Put a comma; and, Delete ‘and Gay Committee. Members’ and substitute ‘Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee and’.
Conference notes with extreme concern the increasing push from employers to undertake workforce monitoring in relation to sexual orientation. This monitoring by some employers is ‘outing’ staff as this is not an anonymous process. It would appear the reason behind this is to obtain figures on how many LGBT employees they have; we would seriously […]
Conference notes that the Government is reviewing the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act [HFEA] and that the general public has been invited to respond to a consultation which ends on the 25th November 2005. Conference notes that our families are being recognised under the auspices of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 [CPA] […]
Conference condemns the actions of countries all over the world, including in Iran, where 2 gay men were recently hanged for being gay, and in Saudi Arabia where, in March 2005, 35 men were publicly flogged for attending a ‘gay wedding’, as well as the Ugandan government for criminalizing gay marriage, and Colombia, where “individuals […]
Conference welcomes the growth in awareness of the international dimension in LGBT trade union work. In particular we note: 1.An increase in regional group affiliations to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and active participation by regional groups in ILGA’s work; 2.The profile of international issues at this year’s TUC LGBT conference, including the […]
Conference notes that: 1.Early last century the National Federation of Women Workers (NFWW) was at the forefront of a campaign to abolish sweated labour; in 1909 the Trade Board Act fixed wages in some sweated trades, including chain making; 2.The employers at Cradley Heath in the Black Country exploited a loophole in the law; they […]