Discrimination in the LGBT community

This Conference welcomes the work that has been done to ensure that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) group is a positive, welcoming and inclusive group, to the extent that it can be seen as a good practice model for other LGBT organisations to learn from. This is not least because too many LGBT […]

Homelessness in the LGBT+ Community

Conference notes the report from Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) (2015), which highlights the growing plight of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, who find themselves homeless. The report found that LGBT young people are at a significantly higher risk of exposure to a range of experiences that are associated with becoming homeless – […]

Transitioning to Best Practise

Conference notes the added pressures placed on people transitioning at work. Thanks to the rising amount of positive representation of trans people in the media, public acceptance of Trans issues are increasing. However the workplace can still be a ‘wild west’ for people transitioning at work, some progressive workplaces have a Trans policy and support […]

FIGHT AGAINST FUEL POVERTY

Conference notes that many pensioners in the UK are losing their lives through cold. It has recently been revealed that 43,000 pensioners lost their lives last year, largely assumed to the bad weather. Yet not one politician from any party uttered a word about this national disgrace. We repeat not one of our so called […]

ELDERLY CARERS

Conference is concerned that hundreds of thousands of carers over retirement age receive no Carers Allowance in recognition of their efforts in caring for their sick, frail or disabled family members, friends or neighbours. In a press release of May 2016, Age UK estimates that carers aged over 80 now number 417,000, most of them […]

CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE LONELINESS IN OLDER PERSONS

Conference notes that there is growing evidence of elderly people suffering from loneliness. By deduction, this will include a large number of UNISON retired members. Recent research has found:- • 17% of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11% are in contact less than once […]

RETIRED MEMBERS – A VALUABLE RESOURCE

Conference notes that under National Rule C.2.6.3 retired members are excluded from holding office within a branch, other than within the retired members’ organisation. When branch officers retire, at present, their “stewardship” retires with them. Many retired members have a wealth of information and experience and, in this age when people are living longer, branches […]

PENSIONS LAW – DAYLIGHT ROBBERY

Conference believes that the most iniquitous aspect of the Government’s “Agenda for Public Service Pensions” [as far as our retired members are concerned] is its intention to grasp control of, and undermine the security of, pensions already in payment. At a stroke, their intended legislation on the Local Government Pension Scheme a)removes any effective influence […]

TWO TIER PENSION SYSTEM

Conference notes the two tier pension system that came into effect in April 2016 following the introduction of the new state pension (as discussed at Conference 2015 and embodied in Motion 5 as passed). Conference 2015 instructed the National Retired Members Committee, and called on the National Executive Council, to campaign to right this injustice. […]

SCHEDULE B

Conference notes that paragraph 2.2 of Schedule B excludes retired members from benefits under paragraphs 2.7 and 2.8 of the schedule. In other words, where an accident or a fatal accident befalls a retired member whilst upon union business, there is no rulebook benefit though there would be one for a full member in the […]

TRADES UNION CONGRESS

Conference notes that UNISON affiliates to the Trades Union Congress on the basis of its total membership, including retired members, and this determines the number of votes UNISON may cast at Congress. But conference also notes that there are no places for retired members, as such, on the UNISON Congress delegation. Conference finds it anomalous […]

RULE D6.5

Conference notes that Rule D6.5 does not describe the Branch Retired Members’ Secretary as a member of the Branch Committee, rather it says she/he “may attend and speak at all (its) meetings … and may vote on (certain matters)”. This appears to leave unclear whether she/he counts towards the quorum or has the same right […]

RETIRED MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE – FAIR REPRESENTATION

Conference notes that Conference Bulletin, UNISON Retired Members Conference 2016, dated April 2016, included the following paragraph: Proportionality and Fair Representation The principles of proportionality and fair representation contained in the NEC’s Scheme of Branch Representation must be strictly maintained. Specifically for Retired members Conference … the gender make-up of (a branch) delegation is based […]

CODE OF GOOD BRANCH PRACTICE

Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to seek the following alterations to the Code of Good Branch Practice: 1)Remove the word, “normal” from the first paragraph of 11.3.1.1; 2)Amend 11.3.14 to require the Branch Retired Members’ Secretary to be a retired member; 3)Make clear that the power of branches at annual meetings (in rule […]

INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX ON TRAVEL INSURANCE

The Government introduced Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) in 1994 at a rate of 2.5% and this has been raised at an ever faster rate to 10%. However IPT on travel insurance, introduced in 1997, has a higher rate, currently 20%. The adoption of the higher rate for travel insurance discriminates against pensioners whose health problems […]