Quality of Retired Life

UNISON Retired Members’ Conference reaffirms its commitment to the eradication of pensioner poverty in Britain. This can happen only if there are good quality final salary occupational pensions in both the private and public sectors and a basic state pension linked to earnings. The Coalition’s attack on pensions is driven by a political determination to […]

Triple Lock

The Office of National Statistics and the Royal Statistical Society are engaged in improving the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in particular the inclusion of owner-occupied housing costs and changes in sampling to reduce the distortions of the ‘Formula Effect’. The CPI is regulated by the EU and is designed to make macro-economic comparisons between member […]

Dementia

DEMENTIA Conference welcomes the PM’s recent announcement that an additional £40 million will be made available for dementia research by 2014, on the basis that “every little helps” and that the main research co-ordinating body, the Alzheimer’s Society, knows well how to exploit the last penny. Cameron’s Dementia Challenge is also a welcome initiative, though […]

Dignity in Care

DIGNITY IN CARE Conference welcomes the report of the Commission on Dignity in Care established by the Local Government Association, the National Health Service and AgeUK. However, Conference believes that the report’s recommendations are largely common sense, and would be carried out almost as a matter of course if hospitals and care homes had the […]

Equality Impact Assessment of LGPS 2014

Conference notes that proposals for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) were released on 31 May 2012. UNISON’s Equality Scheme includes an action plan which includes (within the Local Government Service Group section) Ref LG 12 which states that it is our target that “All future regulatory changes proposed to the LGPS (Local Government Pension […]

REMOVAL OF THE DWP CARER’S ALLOWANCE (CA) WHEN THE CARER STARTS TO DRAW THEIR STATE PENSION (SP)

Conference may be aware that many family members and friends unselfishly act as “at home carers” to provide for the needs of their aged and infirm relatives and friends. This enables those who are being cared for to live, with support, leading an independent life within their own homes in a safe and secure environment. […]

Elderly Social Care and Migrant Workers

Conference notes that the Million Voices Campaign asserts the common interest of public service workers and service users to defend public services and to ensure their quality and effective delivery. In elder/social care, care workers stand alongside care-users and their relatives as guardians of a safe and effective service. Campaigns against the neglect and ill […]

Elderly Abuse Campaign

Motion for Retired Members Conference 2012 From Greater London Region Retired Members Committee Elderly Abuse Campaign Now that UNISON has adopted the campaign as a National Campaign, This conference therefore urges all Branches across the country to support the campaign against Elder Abuse by promoting it amongst its members, getting them to sign the petition […]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Conference is concerned to learn of the problem of domestic violence among older couples. Recent publicity has revealed a previously hidden world in which women have endured decades of abuse which sometimes tragically results in their death. In October 2010 an 81 year old woman died from a bleed to the brain following an alleged […]

Local government pay is an equality issue

Conference notes that the myth of the well-rewarded, secure and complacent public sector worker and the reality of local government pay are worlds apart. In 2011, 8% of full-time workers and 38% of part-time workers in local government – a quarter of the workforce – earned less than the Living Wage of £7.20 an hour. […]

LOCALISM ACT – DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Conference notes that the Localism Act 2011 is the flagship legislation in England for the government’s Big Society agenda, aimed at opening up public sector ‘markets’ to private and voluntary organisations and fundamentally redefining the role of local government as a provider of public services. The act purports to be a ‘radical shift of power […]

Cuts in Further Education

Conference notes with anger and concern the difficulties that Further Education has faced in the last few years and continues to face. There have been cuts across the FE Sector throughout the UK. In Scotland, there is a 30% funding cut over 3 years. There have been over 1000 job losses and many of these […]

Robust Regulation of Care Services

This Conference believes that effective regulation of health and social care services is a vital safeguard to ensure people who use services are protected, and standards of care are upheld. This is more vital than ever because we have a growing population who will rely on care services at some point in their lives, and […]

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – THE BATTLE FOR DECENT PENSIONS FOR WOMEN

Conference notes with concern that the proposed changes to the Local government pensions scheme (LGPS) and the state retirement age are disproportionately impacting on the lives of women. Women local government workers are already statistically more likely to have lower pensions, primarily due to time taken out of the workplace and part-time working to meet […]

Living On The Edge

Conference condemns the treatment of local government workers across the four UK countries by their employers who as well as cutting jobs, are in an increasing number of places, attempting to cut hours, overtime pay, unsocial hours payments, car allowances, increments and annual leave to name a few. Conference notes that this is on top […]