Publicity Materials and Training on Transgender Issues

Conference acknowledges the amount of LGBT publicity materials and information documents produced by UNISON. Conference, however, notes that Transgender specific materials are limited. Conference is also aware that training on Transgender issues for UNISON members is very patchy, while welcoming the work that is being done, for example by Northern Ireland and Scotland LGBT groups. […]

Conference Attendance and Accountability

Conference notes with increasing concern that Conference business is liable to fall from the agenda if delegates are not on the Conference floor at the appropriate time. Conference should recognise that the funding of attendance is from national, regional and branch level and as such delegates have a responsibility to their branch/region to ensure that […]

Training on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues within the Public Sector

Conference notes that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) recognition within family friendly policies is sketchy despite the Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that line managers knowledge and interpretation of these policies is often lacking and open to misinterpretation. Conference instructs the National LGBT Committee to: 1.Work in conjunction with the service […]

Participation and Confidentiality

Conference notes that participation and confidentiality in relation to attendance at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Conference is paramount. Conference is therefore dismayed by the decision to add the Police Staff Service Group Seminar and Conference onto the ‘back’ of our Conference. This decision raises serious concerns of confidentiality in that there is […]

The Ongoing Campaign Around Blood, Organ and Bone Marrow Donation

Conference notes that Resolution 92, passed at the UNISON National Delegate Conference 2006, called for a review of research that currently means the National Blood Service bans Gay or Bisexual men from donating blood. Conference further notes that the resolution also asks that UNISON has effective input into any National Blood Service review of the […]

Disability Discrimination Act

West Midlands Regional Disabled Self-Organised Forum notes that with the further provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act coming into effect on the 4 December 2006 instructs the National Disabled Members Committee to work with both National and Regional Unison Education Officers to produce and provide a specialised training programme for Lay Activists and Staff in […]

DISABLED PERSONS RAILCARDS – VALIDITY ON LONDON UNDERGROUND

Disabled people who hold a Disabled Persons Railcard have derived much benefit from the fact that they can economically access the national railway network. It is therefore difficult for a Disabled Persons Railcard holder to find that Transport for London do not recognise the Disabled Persons Railcard as a document on which the holder can […]

Employment and Disability (Access to Work)

This Conference notes that: 1)There are 6.8 million disabled people of working age in Britain – 1 in 5 of the total working population. 2)Only 50% of disabled people of working age are in employment compared to 81% of non-disabled people. 3)1 million disabled people without a job want to work 4)The average gross hourly […]

Amendment to NDMC constitution 01

1)Item i) first paragraph, last sentance “Such members must be Deaf native British Sign Language Users and at least one shall be a woman”. Delete native as British Sign Language Users and insert and/or Hearing impaired 2)Item vii) where members are listed Deaf Members insert and/or Hearing Impaired

RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR ALL ASSISTANCE DOGS

Assistance Dogs not only make available a specific service to their handlers, but also develop their lives to the highest degree with a new sense of freedom and liberty. The goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to guarantee equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and financially viable independence. The use of Assistance dogs helps […]

ASBO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NEURODIVERSE DISEASE

Conference is concerned about the Government’s respect initiative, in particular its effect on people who are neurodiverse. Conference recognises that neurodiverse people are often extremely marginalise. Many face daily harassment and discrimination due to the failure of society to acknowledge and meet their support/needs. Conference believes that anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) are being served on […]

Campaign for BSL Act

Conference applauds Government for recognising British Sign Language as the fourth indigenous language of the United Kingdom 18th March 2003. We applaud the Disability Equality Duty that requires public authorities to produce Disability Equality Schemes. However, we have concerns that the Duty does not recognise the cultural/linguistic model which is a vital part of Deaf […]

Pensions and Black Minority Ethnic Community Members

This Conference accepts a wide range of evidence that Black people are known to be concentrated in low paid, low skilled jobs and that their life expectancy is considerably lower than white workers. There is also research evidence that demonstrates a higher risk of workplace accidents and injuries for low paid workers, it therefore follows […]

Access to work and BSL Users

Access to work is the right of every British Sign Language User, it is a functional employment right. It is an essential part of our employment opportunities to have Sign Language Interpreters to enable effective communication with other employers and provide equal access of communication within the workplace, both externally and internally. Without communication support […]

The Disability Equality Duty and Disclosure of Disability

This conference welcomes the changes to the Disability Discrimination Act that introduce new Disability Equality Duties (DED) upon public authorities from December 2006. We recognise the valuable requirement for employers and service providers to involve disabled employees and service users in order that institutional disability discrimination can be eliminated rather that the current individualised reasonable […]