Public Housing & Benefits

Conference notes 1)The continued attempts to privatise housing management and the consequent threats to members pay, terms and conditions and trade union organisation; 2)The new stock transfer guidance in England scheduled for April 2012 and the potential new threat of privatisation; 3)The continued attacks on pay, terms and conditions, by housing associations; 4)That there are […]

Connexions

At a time of record youth unemployment this Conference condemns the cuts made upon the Connexions Service for young people that have seen over 3,500 advisers made redundant and many Connexions Centres closed. Consequently young people are being denied careers advice to help them into employment, apprenticeships and with their educational choices. Furthermore changes to […]

Social Care and the Cuts

Conference condemns the failure of political leaders across the UK to grasp the nettle and implement a long-term sustainable solution to the funding deficit in social care. The numbers of people who need care and support are continuing to grow as a result of our ageing population and medical advances which have improved life expectancy. […]

Impact of Privatisation and the Two-Tier Workforce

Conference notes the ruthless way in which the Conservative-led UK government is targeting local government public services for privatisation. In England, the Localism Act effectively gives non-profit-making organisations and council employees the right to require a service be privatised. The Open Public Service White Paper specifically targets specific services for more privatisation – customer contact; […]

Cuts and Equalities

Conference deplores the continuing savage spending cuts taking place across local government. With a female workforce of over 75%, cuts to local government jobs, pay and conditions have a detrimental effect on women in particular and are adversely impacting on other protected groups. Spending cuts are pushing women out of the local government workforce, driving […]

Mutuals and Co-ops

Conference notes the continuing interest in co-ops and mutuals from central and local government. The Localism Act effectively gives council employees in England the right to require a service be privatised, and the government the power to fund them to do so. Both the Mutuals Taskforce and Mutuals Information Service are supporting mutuals ‘spun out’ […]

Cuts / Austerity

Conference condemns the Conservative-led coalition for the widespread and unprecedented destruction of council services that has resulted from the savage and unprecedented reductions in central government grants to local authorities and fire authorities and to the devolved nations. Local government workers have borne the brunt of this in job losses, the pay freeze, and attacks […]

BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE

The public sector cuts have had an unprecedented impact on women, with increasing numbers accepting redundancy and voluntary early severance. Those women who are left in the workplace are experiencing an increase in stress as work pressures mount and bullying, in its various manifestations increases. This is also affecting vulnerable clients, as our professional members […]

FLEXIBLE WORKING OPTION FOR ALL

Conference notes that despite numerous attempts to ensure that employers have a consistent approach to dealing with flexible working requests, there are still widespread differences. As those most likely to be in caring roles are women, this disadvantages women far more than men. Particularly in these challenging times of financial constraints on employers, it is […]

CUTS TO SERVICES AND THE EFFECT ON WOMEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Conference is well aware of the cuts to services all over the UK and those particularly affecting women. Conference however recognises that cuts to services will affect those in rural communities even more acutely. It is acknowledged that services relied upon by those in urban areas, are even more valuable to those living in the […]

FUTURE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AFFECTING WOMEN

Each year European and UK parliament bring legislative changes forward for consultation and debate. Many of these consultations and legislative changes are not well publicised and it is often by default that women become aware of these forthcoming changes. This conference believes that the more information about proposed legislative changes that can be given to […]

FOOD BANKS VS BANKERS’ BONUSES

Conference notes with dismay the resurgence of food banks across the UK. In September 2011 it was announced that jobcentres in England and Wales will refer people whose benefits have been delayed, or have been refused crisis loans, to charity-run food banks that will give them a food parcel containing basics such as tinned soup, […]

CORRECTIVE RAPE

Conference agrees that violence against women is a crime. All women, regardless of their race or sexual orientation, have the right to live without fear and to be free from prejudice, discrimination and violence. Conference is therefore appalled that in countries across the world, “corrective” rape takes place, where women are raped as a way […]

WOMEN AND WORK

The budget cuts being imposed on the public sector is having a huge impact on women, two thirds of the public sector workforce is made up of women, who carry out a variety of roles. In some regions almost fifty per cent of the female population is employed in this sector. Those traditional job roles […]

DECENT PENSIONS MATTER TO YOUNG WOMEN

This Conference is appalled by the attacks on our pension schemes and that women – young women in particular – will be disproportionately disadvantaged. This Conference is alarmed that low-take up, or withdrawal from the schemes, by members will be damaging to the schemes and may in the long-term make them unviable. This Conference believes […]