This Water, Environment & Transport Conference notes the success of the WET H&S event of 2016 and past events and calls on the WET Executive in conjunction with UNISON’s H&S unit to organise a similar event in 2018, noting that our Service Group has some of the riskiest occupations within our membership of the whole […]
Conference motions
Conference notes that new data from Save the Children reveals an alarming crisis in Afghanistan, as 3,000 Afghans are repatriated daily from Pakistan, following a tightening in regulations by Pakistani authorities. More than 70 percent of returnee parents and community leaders, who took part in a survey compiled by the aid organisation, said early marriage […]
Conference notes that on 7 April 2011, the Council of Europe adopted the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) and it was opened for signatures by member states on 11 May 2011. It entered into force on 1 April 2014. The Istanbul Convention was drafted […]
Conference is aware that in recent years governments have increased the state pension for all women born on or after 6 April 1951. The Conservative government in 1995 included into the Pension Act (1995) provision to raise the pension age of women from 60 to 65 so that it would be in line with men’s […]
Since the Tories have been in power, employment laws have become lax, the laws which are in place to protect our most vulnerable in society continue to be flouted and used by employers to stifle members. Basic principles are failing to be followed resulting in many women being discriminated against. This is often the case […]
As cuts continue around the country one area which continues to suffer is the support for domestic abuse. It is seen as an area to easily make cuts when in fact these are the very services which are saving women’s lives. Leaving any relationship can be a difficult and challenging time, but imagine having to […]
The impact of Brexit is still unclear. What must be argued for is that the voice of women is at the negotiating table. Women continue to be under-represented in Parliament and wider Civic Society. The impact of the Conservative Government’s policies of austerity are having a disproportionate impact in the North East, and women continue […]
On the 23rd of June, the country voted by a narrow margin of 52% to 48% to leave the EU. If we look at all the sectors that UNISON represent we will see women EU members working, and contributing having settled in Britain. With women making up 77% of UNISON’s membership, it is not difficult […]
Sickle cell disease is the name for a group of inherited blood disorder that affect the red blood cells. The most serious type is called sickle cell anaemia. People with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause problems because they don’t live as long as healthy blood cells and they […]
Conference welcomes the Inquiry and recently published Report on sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools published by the government women’s and equalities committee. The Inquiry came about following a number of surveys and reports that highlighted the shocking scale of incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools for example, YouGov research in […]
Conference believes that all forms of hate crime are abhorrent. Conference notes that following the toxic debate on EU membership last year, reported hate crime increased. The spike in hate crime against those perceived to be migrants or asylum seekers is well documented. Conference further notes the findings of the latest hate crime report by […]
The exit of the UK from the EU has profound implications for women’s rights. The implications were recognised in our debate at Women’s Conference 2015 but have now became a reality. Some of the key policy areas where key equality law and related measures derived from EU membership include: • women’s rights and representation; • […]
Over the past few years, national women’s conference has discussed concerns at the growing use and abuse of zero hours contracts. According to data from the Office of National Statistics, these contracts disproportionately impact on women workers, and they are primarily focused on work traditionally undertaken by women, such as cleaning and caring work. However, […]
Conference notes that, according to the Alzheimer’s Society, women are disproportionately affected by dementia: • Over 500,000 people with dementia – 61% – are women • Women in their 60s are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over the rest of their lives as they are to develop breast cancer • Dementia is […]
Conference notes that each year the attendance at national women’s conference is monitored and reported to the committee and in the annual report. There is little significant change in the pattern of women attending, with disabled, LGBT and part time workers well represented amongst the delegation. However, Black, young and low paid women are still […]