GATS and Public Services

Conference recognises that the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) aims to expose services world wide to competition, and is a real threat to public services in the UK. While GATS does not compel governments to liberalise, or privatise, services, there will be great pressure on them to do so. GATS is an ongoing […]

Invest in Council Housing/Decent Homes

Conference believes that decent affordable housing is a fundamental right of all citizens and is particularly concerned about the lack of supply of low cost quality homes for working people and their families in the United Kingdom. Conference notes that Government cannot now meet its Decent Homes Target of bringing all council housing up to […]

Public Service Reform

Conference recognises that the recent political debate has shifted, since the spending increases announced in 2002, from a question of extra funding to one of public service reform, with growing support for different varieties of new localism. However this debate has been marked more by rhetoric than either substance or vision. There is a contrast […]

The National Health Service

Conference welcomes the intention of the Government to increase the funding of the National Health Service (NHS) in England by 7.4 per cent in real terms over five years from 2003/4, and the Government’s stated intention of bringing UK health spending in line with the European average. This funding offers the NHS the opportunity to […]

Health and Safety

Conference condemns the UK Government for not having met a number of commitments made in respect of health and safety legislation and demands action now. Having consulted broadly in 1999, and before, on what actions would secure safer and healthier workplaces, the Government’s Revitalising Health and Safety initiative has derailed and needs revitalising itself. Conference […]

Schedule A: Rates of Subscription – 6.3 Retired Members

Add new sub-paragraph: “From 1 July 2003, members who are entitled to death benefit as a result of paying the reduced subscriptions due under the paragraph above will continue to be entitled to death benefit without the need to make any further subscription payments after that date.”

Schedule A: Rates of Subscription – 2 Full Membership

2.3, title, delete “and” and replace with “,” and add at end “and other unpaid leave.”

Rule C.2.3.2.1 Full Membership

Delete “or” and replace with “,” After “leave” insert “or other unpaid leave”

Rule D.2.2.1 Regional Representatives

Delete “below” in all cases and replace with “Rule Q Definitions” Delete from “candidacy” to “job” Insert “low pay” before “reserved seat” in all cases RULE Q DEFINITIONS Insert new definition: “RESERVED LOW PAY SEATS are seats reserved for women members who earn below a defined basic hourly rate. This rate is uprated annually by […]

Rule D.3.1.1 Service Groups

Delete “Police Support Staff” and insert “Police Staff”

Tackling Racism, Promoting Equality

Conference believes that the politics of the fascists pose a serious threat to our democratic values. The incitement to racism and racial violence by the British National Party (BNP) has alarmed the vast majority of people who are not racist. It is essential to continue to oppose all attempts to use the politics of racial […]

Political Fund Review

Conference approves the recommendations contained in the National Executive Council’s report on the Political Fund Review: 1)the current political fund arrangements offering choice between the General Political Fund (GPF) and the Affiliated Political Fund (APF) should be retained. Alternatives, which remove this choice or introduce a third fund, should be rejected. 2)a new set of […]

Branch, Steward and Workplace Organisation

Conference notes and welcomes the progress made in implementing the organising agenda into mainstream UNISON activity whilst recognising, as with any medium term objective, much remains to be achieved. Conference further notes the tangible benefits of this policy include: 1)contributing to the annual increase in membership over the past four years; 2)helping to substantially boost […]

Rule D.3.4.9 Service Group Conference

After “motions” insert “and two amendments” Rule D.3.4.10 Service Group Conference After “motions” insert “and two amendments” Rule P.1.3.5 Standing Orders For Conferences Delete and insert new paragraph: “P.1.3.5Rule P.3.1 shall not apply. The bodies who may propose motions and amendments for the Conference shall be: each branch represented within the Service Group; the Service […]

Young Workers Better Off in UNISON

Conference believes that young workers join a trade union for the same reason as every other worker, regardless of age, for the work-based benefits membership brings. For too long sections of the trade union movement have stuck to the outdated view that a whole generation of workers is ideologically opposed to joining a union. This […]