British Sign Language access to Unison Website

Conference welcomes a more accessible and inclusive UNISON Website. Conference requests that the National Disabled Members Committee work with the ‘Webmaster’ to look at different access mediums and that British Sign Language as well as text to speech interpretation is included in the access options available to our members. BSL as well as text to […]

Police & Justice Service Group

Conference welcomes the decision of National Delegate Conference to approve the establishment of a Police and Justice Service Group. Conference calls upon the Service Group Executive, in consultation with representatives from the National Probation Committee and other sectors within the proposed new service group, to develop proposals on the constitution of that new Service Group, […]

Improving self organisation in Police Staff Branches

Conference believes that equality is fundamental and that women, black, disabled, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and young members may face particular barriers in the workplace and in getting involved in the union. Indeed many members may face multiple barriers. Conference notes that the police service has had problems in achieving Government recruitment targets […]

Campaign to Keep the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Conference notes that Eric Pickles, former Shadow Local Government Minister and David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, have both publicly stated that a Conservative Government would end the final salary LGPS. Furthermore, discussions about setting an inferior Defined Contribution Scheme to replace the LGPS have taken place across political groupings within the Local Government […]

Workforce Modernisation and Flexibility

Conference welcomes the ongoing work by the NPIA and other key police stakeholders to take forward the workforce modernisation agenda. Conference believes that workforce modernisation holds the key to improved job opportunities, careers and job security for police staff in England, Scotland and Wales. Conference notes the results of the Deloittes’ Interim Report on Evaluation […]

Future of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

Conference condemns the remarks of Shadow Home Secretary Christopher Grayling on the future of PCSOs under a Conservative Government. In an interview given to the Yorkshire Post, published on 5 May 2009, Mr Grayling said: “Doing away with PCSOs is something I’m looking at the moment. I’m minded to say that decisions about their futures […]

Self Directed Support and Protection of Disabled People and their Employees

This Conference welcomes the introduction of Direct Payments for disabled and older people which has taken place over the past few years, along with the recent pilots of Individual Budgets which increase choice and control for disabled and older people over the services they receive. However, we are concerned that there are insufficient safeguards to […]

Access to Work

This Conference notes that many disabled people are unemployed and find it difficult to obtain work. Some employers, particularly those in the Private Sector, see disabled people as an ‘expensive’ choice due to the need for access arrangements. The current economic climate means that it is now even more likely that employers will not take […]

LAP DANCING – NORMALISING THE SEXUAL OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN

This Conference welcomes the announcement in the Queen’s speech in December that tougher licensing of lap dancing clubs will be included in the Home Office Policing and Crime Reduction Bill. Tougher licensing will allow gender equality to be considered in licensing processes and will protect the rights of women in the industry, by placing clubs […]

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT – YOUNG WOMEN AND PENSIONS

As women we need to ensure that young women are aware of the benefits of paying into a pension scheme at the earliest opportunity. In 2007, research by a private bank showed that over half of women aged between 35 and 44 had made no pension provision – apparently believing that they could rely on […]

WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN

Following the fall of the Taliban government in late 2001 women in Afghanistan have in theory more freedom and equality. In reality, however, the plight they face is much different. Women in Afghanistan still face forced marriage, abuse, the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, and an eighty eight per cent illiteracy rate. Women […]

PENSIONS

This Conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee to work with the National Young Members Committee to highlight the importance of young women becoming members of a pension scheme. As women we need to ensure that young women are aware of the benefits of paying into a pension scheme at the earliest opportunity, so as […]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

National Women’s Conference applauds the work carried out by the National Women’s Committee in relation to domestic violence. However, the current monitoring system as decreed by the Home Office does not take into account those aged under 18 who are perpetrators of domestic violence. For example as a result of the current monitoring process, a […]

ABORTION RIGHTS IN NICARAGUA

Since 2006 when the Sandinista Government returned to power in Nicaragua a law prohibiting abortion was introduced. This made abortion even on medical grounds or as a consequence of rape illegal. For one hundred and thirty years Nicaraguan law allowed a woman to have an abortion when her life or health was in danger from […]

REPRESENTATION AT NATIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Conference welcomes the changes to the representation to National Women’s Conference which enables all branches to send at least one delegate to National Women’s Conference that came into effect in 2008. However, this has disadvantaged the very small number of large branches, which emerged following changes to public services structures. Many of these branches have […]