Public Transpot

Public Transport Many retired members rely on public transport for their day to day living, such as hospital and doctors appointments, shopping, visiting relatives and friends, attending social groups that may help with isolation and loneliness. However, recently retired members have seen a cut in bus services and less frequent services. This can mean they […]

Retired Members at Self-Organised Group Conferences – Six Years On

Conference recalls the resolution of the 2016 Retired Members’ Conference, motion 35 as amended, “Retired Members at Self-Organised Group Conferences” which instructed the National Retired Members’ Committee (NRMC) to: “seek the views of retired women members, retired Black members, retired disabled members and retired lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members and, subject to gaining their […]

EQUALITY LIAISON COMMITTEE

Conference recalls the resolution of last year’s retired members conference, Ageism in a Covid Age (Motion 13 as amended.) The resolution called upon the Retired Members National Committee (RMNC) to work with the National Executive Council (NEC), Self-Organised Groups (SOGs), Young Members Organisation (YMO) and others to try to ensure that ageism is given priority […]

SCORES ON THE DOORS

SCORES ON THE DOORS Conference notes that at the conclusion of each National Retired Members’ Conference there is a ballot of suitable motions from which the two with the highest votes are chosen to be submitted to next year’s National Delegate Conference by the National Retired Members’ Organisation. However, Conference notes that only the two […]

Card Only Transactions and Access to Cash

Conference notes that during the pandemic many organisations moved to introduce card only transactions in an effort to reduce the circulation of cash and therefore the risk of infection. Conference further notes that this practice is becoming more widespread which has the potential to cause serious difficulties for older people on limited incomes. Many older […]

Triple Lock

This Conference is appalled that the Chancellor did not take the opportunity, in his spring statement, to reinstate the triple lock in relation to the state pension. Conference notes that had the triple lock been applied the state pension would have been raised by about 8% in line with pay increases which were existent at […]

THE COST OF LIVING RISE AND ITS IMPACT ON OLDER PEOPLE

This Conference notes: – The emergence of a significant rate of inflation in the economy – The proposed increase in energy prices (gas and electricity) – The National Insurance increase by 1.25 percentage points – The six largest energy companies made in excess of £1billion profit in 2021 Whilst recognising that many older people do […]

The Bus Pass in England

In England the Bus Pass is available to those at or over state pension age or with some severe health conditions. It gives its holders free travel throughout England on what are defined as “Local bus services”, as a minimum between 09.30 and 23.00 on weekdays and at all times at weekends and Bank Holidays. […]

Properly Fund Our Environmental Protection Agencies.

This conference notes that the ambitious environmental rhetoric used by all governments in the UK stands in direct opposition to the long-term fall in resources and support for the country’s environmental protection agencies which regulate and enforce environmental legislation. Why action is needed: For over a decade, our environmental protection agencies have been subject to […]

Trans equality in WET – louder and prouder!

The toxic debate ignited by the United Kingdom government’s consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act underlined the importance of our union, including branches in the Water, Environment and Transport service group, supporting and representing our Trans members effectively. Attacks on Trans rights have escalated further in the past year. There has been a sustained […]

Changes to the Constitution of the Water, Environment and Transport (WET) Service Group

Conference notes that the proposed revisions to the WET constitution have been overseen by the WET Executive and in particular by the policy sub-group, which is made up of representatives of all WET sectors. The key changes to the constitution can be found on: a. Page 2, sub-section 3.3: Sector seats reduced to 3 instead […]

Net zero and LGBT+ members

Conference recalls that the “Net Zero” motion passed at the 2021 WET conference called for the service group to work with all appropriate stakeholders in UNISON to promote policies that support a net zero strategy, including proper funding for a ‘Just Transition’ and a significant increase in employment in WET alongside new skills and training […]

Make 2022 the Year of Disabled Workers in WET workplaces

Conference notes that UNISON has declared 2022 the year of disabled workers, which is a great opportunity for WET branches to organise, bargain and campaign on the issues that matter to our disabled members and to increase recruitment and retention as a result. WET branches can use 2022 to highlight the experience of our disabled […]

UNISON recognition by Defra

A number of posts within the Environment Agency have been transferred to the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) over the past few years. Also, some new Environment Agency vacancies are advertised as Defra posts. UNISON has strong representation on behalf of our members in the Environment Agency. 1)We are entitled to elect representatives […]

Mental health of key workers in the Water Industry

Conference, during the COVID-19 pandemic water industry workers started to hear the terminology that they were key workers. Conference notes the huge impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, whether on staff working under stressful conditions, people isolated from friends and family by lockdown measures, the physical impact of the virus itself, or the […]