Equality Matters and UNISON

Equality is the cornerstone of UNISON. Work on equality issues is integrated into the union’s core activities and into the bargining agenda. UNISON Scotland notes that 2003 is also an important year for the EU Framework Employment Directive which will bring in new protection from discrimination in employment, for sexual orientation, religion or belief and […]

Recognition of our Families and Partnerships

Conference welcomes the broadening of the debate on recognition of lesbian and gay partnerships. Conference notes that the Government has set up a team in the Women and Equality Unit to look into the issue of civil partnership registration and its associated rights and responsibilities and welcomes the participation of UNISON members in a survey […]

The Impact of Self-Organisation on the Bargaining Agenda

Conference believes that the fundamental purpose of our self-organisation is to improve the working lives of lesbians and gay men. Conference notes that the tenth anniversary of the formation of UNISON provides an opportunity to assess the impact of lesbian and gay self-organisation on the union’s bargaining agenda. Conference recognises that some progress has been […]

UNISON’s 10th Anniversary

Conference notes that 2003 will be UNISON’s 10th Anniversary. This will be a milestone anniversary of the coming together of the original 3 unions (COHSE, NUPE and NALGO). These 10 years have seen many achievements that UNISON should be proud of. Therefore this anniversary should be an opportunity to reflect on our achievements and renew […]

Joint Scotland & Northern Ireland Training Event

Conference recognises the valuable experience that regional training offers to groups and individual members. This training is further beneficial when it involves more than one region, and in April of this year UNISON Scotland hosted a joint event with our colleagues in Northern Ireland. This event was a reciprocal event following on from the success […]

Procurement and Equalities

Conference notes that the Audit Commission recently raised concerns on the performance of local authorities in respect of equalities, particularly in service delivery. Conference therefore welcomes the amendment to the Local Government Act 1988 part II powers, which removes the restriction preventing equality considerations from being taken into account in the awarding of contracts when […]

Affiliated Political Fund

Conference notes with concern that the consultation on the political fund system due for Annual Delegate Conference 2002 has been delayed and the report is now due next year. The report was called for by a motion to 2001 National Delegate Conference. That motion, Motion 131 “The Labour Government – What do we get for […]

Organising for Our Future

Conference instructs the National Lesbian and Gay Committee (NLGC) to carry out the actions set out in the recommendations of the report ‘Organising for Our Future’ as follows: 1.to introduce a written constitution for the NLGC, from existing and agreed policies and procedures; 2.to increase the flow of information to activists by introducing more regular […]

Equality and Inclusion – Public Services Agenda for Lesbians & Gay Men – Inclusion in our Leisure

Conference notes that UNISON published a statement in June 2001 relating to Leisure Services for Lesbians and Gay Men. This statement made clear that: “UNISON believes the local administration of arts, sport and leisure can make an enormous difference to lesbians and gay men. Organised on the basis of inclusiveness, it can support lesbians and […]

Equalities Commissions

Conference notes that the Government has set up a project to consider the feasibility of a single equality body, which is doe to publish a report for consultation towards the end of 2002. The starting point of the project is that the status quo cannot continue, as provision must be made for machinery to deliver […]

Pensions Service

The Government launched the new Pensions Service on 1 April 2002. Prior to that date, pensioners received face to face support and had their information processed by specialist staff based in their local benefits office. This Conference is concerned that under the new Pensions Service: 1)Pensioners will be forced to make claims or raise financially […]

Right to Care Campaign

In November 2001, UNISON, with a number of other organisations, launched the Right to Care Campaign. The aims of the Campaign are as follows: 1)That the Government must introduce personal and nursing care that is free at the point of use and funded from general taxation; 2)That this care should be the entitlement of everyone, […]

Pensions

This Conference supports wholeheartedly Composite E which was carried at the 2002 UNISON National Delegate Conference. This Conference notes that we all rely on the pension earned during employment to provide a reasonable standard of living in retirement and financial protection for our families and partners in the event of death or ill health. This […]

Ending of Age Discrimination

This Conference notes that the Government has taken a piecemeal approach to the enactment of anti-discriminatory law in the United Kingdom. In particular, the Government does not apparently intend to address the question of age discrimination in the provision of goods and services set out in a European Directive until 2006 at the earliest. The […]

Ending of Tax Penalty on Pensioners

This Conference is concerned that nearly a million pensioners are being penalised on tax free allowances because of restrictions imposed by the Government. Such age allowance restrictions penalise modest savings and punish those who have worked to earn a decent pension. Conference requests the National Executive Council to raise this matter with the Government and […]