Tackling LGBT discrimination from water, environment and transport customers, colleagues and members of the public

Conference welcomes the 2010 Equality Act – one of the last Labour government’s final pieces of legislation. This provides a wide ranging basis for negotiating in our water, environment and transport (WET) workplaces. It places a duty on every employer, whether in the private or public sector, to protect their employees from discrimination from colleagues, […]

Increase to Retirement Age

With this current Government being hellbent in increasing retirement ages until we drop, companies in the Water, Environment and Transport sector like others may invoke ‘capability’ to get rid of older workers. They tend to be higher paid with better terms and conditions and more likely to ‘challenge the system’ than younger workers. All workers […]

Aerosol Formation

0Although most of our companies that treat waste are phasing out the paddle rotation systems in the Activated Sludge Process and replacing them with the more efficient diffused oxygen technique another hazard involving aerosol formation is entering our workplaces. This is the composting of sludge waste and green waste to sell as garden compost and […]

Better Lone Working Systems

Most lone working systems used in the water industry are cumbersome to use and involve ringing numbers which takes time and are only effective for office or van based workers. For groups such as meter readers or samplers who are working on riverbanks and walking along lonely footpaths or in people’s homes they need an […]

Single Operator Manning.

Many of the assets of the Water Companies are large and situated in isolated locations. This is particularly true of sewage works which were deliberately built well away from populated areas. However this isolation now put our operatives at risk as these sites have copper cable, stainless steel screens and lots of metal equipment that […]

Campaigning against water poverty

‘Campaigning against water poverty’ This Conference seeks that this Service Group, guided by the Service Group Executive, resolves to actively campaign to counter and diminish the effects of water poverty. With water becoming an increasingly scarce resource, as a result of climate change and increased consumer demand, this matter of water poverty is an issue […]

Bus Services and Jobs Put at Risk

Conference notes with great concern that many local bus services, particularly those serving rural areas, face an uncertain future. A high proportion of the funding for subsidised and tendered services comes from local authorities who themselves face significant cuts in their grant income from Government. The continued viability of many community transport undertakings and the […]

Water Industry Risk to Jobs

2011 marks the beginning of what may become the most serious threat since 1989 to jobs and services provided by the UK’s water industry. Whether in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland the present industry structure is likely to come under attack from both regulators and governments. With a new White Paper from the Government […]

Campaign Against the Cuts

Conference deplores the Con- Dem Government’s attacks on jobs, services, pensions and pay in the public sector as their only solution to the economic crisis brought about by the irresponsibility of the banking sector. Conference condemns those banks that continue to award large bonuses to the very people whose actions have caused the economic difficulties […]

British Waterways

Conference is alarmed over the developments taking place in British Waterways. Despite UNISON’s opposition the Government has gone ahead with its plan to convert British Waterways into a charitable trust, bringing to a close a proud history of public ownership and management of the nations’ canals. However, Conference is pleased to note that the Scottish […]

Women Apprentices

Conference notes the report “Apprentices and Gender” produced by the TUC and YWCA in October 2010. Conference is concerned that the report finds that “although the problems of occupational segregation, gender stereotyping, poor careers advice, low pay and lack of progression for women in the apprenticeships system is well documented and well understood, little progress […]

Undertaking Three Monthly Joint Health and Safety Inspections in the Industries Covered by the Water, Environment and Transport Service Group

The 2011 Water, Environment and Transport Conference notes that Trade Union Accredited H&S or SHE (Safety, Environment and Health) representatives have a legal right to inspect the workplace 4 times per year. Agreeing dates can be a problem, therefore it is recommended that joint H&S inspections are agreed with management as near as practicable to […]

Closure of Final Salary Pension Scheme

This 2011 Water, Environment and Transport Conference is concerned at the actions of Cambridge Water who have closed their final salary pension scheme to existing members as well as new entrants. We see this as a very disturbing development and call upon the Service Group Executive to try to ensure this is not the tip […]

Concessionary Fares

This WET Conference is pleased that to date there appears to be no radical plans to cease concessionary fares by the coalition. We cannot be complacent however, and as the cuts increase across the board with their tenure of office it is vital that the Executive comments on the importance of concessionary fares by producing […]

Water, Environment and Transport Health and Safety Event 2012

The 2011 WET Conference recognises the value of the inaugural service group health and safety event held in March 2010 and the impressive subjects covered in one day by all who attended. Health and safety is rightly seen as one of the most important factors by members in retaining their UNISON membership and it is […]