Impact of benefit cuts on disabled women

Conference is well aware that disabled workers are paid £3,700 less than non-disabled workers. But conference notes that disabled women are paid even less than disabled men. According to TUC analysis, disabled women face an even bigger pay gap of over £7,000 a year. The gap also increases as women age. Conference recognises that there […]

Organising young members in Higher Education following the age limit rule change

Conference notes the rule change passed at National Delegate Conference 2023 which raised the age limit for young members from all those aged 26 and under to all those aged 30 and under. Conference further notes that this roughly doubles the number of young members in UNISON, and is therefore a unique opportunity to build […]

Baby Loss Policies – The bare minimum should be a floor not a ceiling

Please note, in this context, when we refer to Women, the term encompasses women and pregnant people. Conference notes that there is currently a disparity around attendance management policies for pregnancy losses of less than 24 weeks gestation when compared to pregnancy related illness in an ongoing pregnancy. Our members can unfairly fall through the […]

A new start for Higher Education

Conference believes: 1)Higher Education is a crucial sector that can contribute to the wealth and happiness of all; 2)Solving the problems that confront society in the 21st century requires Higher Education to be funded and organised in the most efficient way; 3)Higher education should be well funded from general taxation with a public service ethos […]

Oppose Minimum Service Levels

Conference notes the passage of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. Conference believes this Act represents a grave threat to unions’ ability to take effective strike action in the sectors of health, education services, fire and rescue, border security, and nuclear decommissioning. Conference notes the Government announced on 2 October 2023 that it intends […]

Parenthood shouldn’t equal poverty

Conference notes the UNICEF report from September 2023 which found that 70% of UK-based parents of children and new babies felt that life was getting harder for parents. Over two-thirds of parents believe that the Government is not doing enough to support them. In the UNICEF survey of parents of 0-4-year-olds, 78% reported that the […]

Organising young women in UNISON following the age limit rule change

Conference notes the rule change passed at National Delegate Conference 2023 which raised the age limit for young members from all those aged 26 and under to all those aged 30 and under. Conference further notes that this roughly doubles the number of young members in UNISON, and is therefore a unique opportunity to build […]

RAISING AWARENESS OF USE OF DIGITIAL TECHNOLOGY IN DOMESTIC ABUSE

This conference knows how much digital technology has changed all our lives. The use of mobile phones, social media, home camera systems does make our communication with work colleagues, friends, and family so much quicker and easier. In the main these are all good methods to keep us safe and in touch. However there has […]

Free car parking for disabled workers in higher education

Conference notes that disabled workers are entitled to reasonable adjustments to break down the barriers they face at work. However too many Higher Education employers continue to ignore requests for adjustments or to refuse them. Conference notes that case law has established that the provision of a dedicated car parking space can be a reasonable […]

Negotiating for mental health support

Conference notes that increased workloads in Higher Education, coupled with the impact of the pandemic, has seen an increase in staff experiencing mental health problems. Conference notes that workers with mental health problems which have a substantial impact on their normal day to day activities are likely to be disabled workers and entitled to protections […]

Fund our universities properly

Conference Notes: Public services have been systematically underfunded for years and Higher Education is not exempt from austerity and cutbacks. Whilst different funding systems operate across the four UK nations, delivering funding based on grants, tuition fee loans or both, what unites many Higher Education Institutions is that money is scarce and high inflation has […]

Bring outsourced services back in-house

Conference notes that On 1 August 2013, Ulster University outsourced its facilities services, i.e. cleaners, porters, security officers, mail room staff and all catering services which were transferred out to two companies, NOONAN Service Group and Mount Charles Catering. Staff were transferred to NOONAN and Mount Charles under TUPE. Anyone employed after 1 August 2013 […]

UNISON in students’ unions

Conference Notes: 1)UNISON in Higher Education represents staff in a range of roles and professions. This includes staff employed by Students’ Unions. 2)Students’ Union staff experience challenges of low pay, job insecurity and workload as much as any in the sector. 3)Students’ Unions, Associations and Guilds comprise a range of organisational structures which can create […]

Paid Leave for Pregnancy Loss and End Of Pregnancy

Conference notes the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which gives parents the right to take up to two weeks’ time off work to deal with the death of a child, if the child has died under the age of 18 or is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy, as well as […]

No Confidence in UCEA

For too many years now it seems that the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) are neither able nor willing to negotiate with the unions in good faith. It appears that perhaps UCEA is acting as an arm of the Conservative Government, representing year after year of increasingly austerity for staff working in Higher Education. […]