Investment in Public Transport

This Conference welcomes recent initiatives by the Government to invest in public transport within West Yorkshire, such as YellowBus, Yorcard and real time information, but notes with great concern that this is insufficient to redress the Tory legacy of inadequate investment in public transport provision. This Conference also notes that despite the recent problems with […]

Government 10 Year Transport Plan – The Role of the Workforce

Conference welcomes the Government’s decision to review progress on achieving the aims of its 10 Year Transport Plan which, so far, has failed to produce any major improvements in public transport provision, significantly reduce road congestion and reduce deaths and casualties on out roads and railways. Conference notes that policy makers often overlook the role […]

Restoration of the Value of the State Pension

Conference notes the introduction of the pensioner credits scheme and notes that more than one million pensioners have not made application for such credits. The low take-up rate of these means-tested benefits was thoroughly predictable Conference believes that restoration of the state pension scheme to its former monetary value is the proper way forward and […]

Pensions

Conference notes that: 1)the UK continues to face a crisis in its pensions provisions for the future; 2)despite government initiatives such as raising payments to the poorest pensioners, free eye tests and the winter fuel allowance, too many pensioners are still condemned to live and die in poverty; 3)there are widespread moves in private sector […]

Police Community Support Officer Funding

This Conference is aware that Government funding for the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) employed by many police forces across the country is shortly to come to an end. Some police forces have indicated that they may not be able to maintain the levels of PCSOs that they currently employ when this funding runs out. […]

Service Group Executive

At the Service Group Seminar at Croyde Bay in 2003, the Service Group Executive were asked to report in full on the progress made towards achieving the goals of Composite C of the Service Group Conference 2003. Conference is dismayed that no report was given. This Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to prioritise the […]

Local Government Pension Scheme Pensions

This Conference calls upon the Government to reconsider changes in the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS) which may be detrimental to our members. Such changes include: 1)from April 2004, the right to a return of pensions contributions are to be removed and immediate ‘vesting’ of pension rights will be introduce; 2)from April 2005, increasing the […]

Organisation of Young Members

Conference notes: 1) the hard work and commitment of activists at branch, regional and national level that resulted in the excellent young members’ recruitment figures for 2003, and that this is recognised as an essential part of UNISON’s work in building a sustainable, organised union; 2)that successful campaigning/organising work led by young members around workplace […]

National Minimum Wage

Conference notes that: 1)UNISON’s latest submission to the Low Pay Commission provides a radical and progressive solution to the problem of low paid young workers; 2)UNISON welcomes the government’s decision to introduce a minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds, from 1 October 2004. However, we are concerned that the government chose to retain […]

Transport Policy

Conference notes the success of the free bus travel system in Wales which has extended travel to all persons aged over 60 and disabled people. The Welsh system allows travel on any one, or a series of, buses for journeys beginning and ending in Wales. The benefits have been substantial and have led to an […]

International Policy

International developments, whether economic, social or political, affect all areas of UNISON’s membership. Conference, in recognising this, notes that one of the founding principles of the union was that of international solidarity and friendship with trade unions overseas and in particular with unions struggling against the forces of oppression, privatisation and injustice. For decades we […]

Employment Rights in the UK

Conference welcomes the government’s employment rights bill 2003 but believes that it does not go far enough, leaving workers in Britain with less protection than those employed in the rest of Europe. We welcome those provisions that build on the Employment Rights Act of 1999, improving the process of recognition and establishing important and consultation […]

Staffing Levels

Conference deplores the cost cutting measures used throughout the police service that major on reducing staff numbers to what is less than a safe minimum. Conference is concerned at the effect this has on an already dissatisfied public resulting in our members, and in turn their families, being placed under extreme stress. Conference notes the […]

Access to Training and Development

The Police Staff membership has a long history of under investment by Police Management. Workplace learning and training opportunities to Police Staff has never been seen as a priority. It is often viewed as unnecessary by some employers or treated in a slipshod and half-hearted manner by others, who undervalue Police Staff and their role […]

Elderly Persons’ Homes

Conference notes with concern the increasing number of local authority elderly person’s homes which have transferred with the transfer to private companies. Conference believes that a well-funded and accountable local authority provision of this service is essential to the establishment and maintenance of high standards across all providers of this service. Conference also notes that […]