PENSIONS

Conference welcomes the progress made by UNISON, working with the other affiliated unions, at Labour’s National Policy Forum on 25 July 2004 which agreed a series of policies that will form the basis for Labour’s manifesto for the general election widely expected to take place next year. In particular policies that relate to Pensions, such […]

FULL EQUALITY IN PARTNERSHIP RIGHTS

Conference welcomes the Civil Partnership Bill, but believes it falls short of full equality. Conference therefore calls for the following: 1.Both marriage and Civil Partnership should be available to both same and opposite sex partners; 2.There should be legal recognition for same and opposite sex partners who are either unable or unwilling to register or […]

LOCAL CAMPAIGNING AGAINST FASCISM – WORKING WITH TRADES UNION COUNCILS

Conference welcomes how many branch and regional lesbian and gay groups devoted resources in the run-up to the June 10th elections to campaigning against the British National Party (BNP) and other fascist candidates. Conference notes the invaluable role of Searchlight providing research, training and publicity for this campaign and the role of Trades Union Congress […]

FAIR REPRESENTATION OF PART-TIME, MANUAL AND LOW PAID WORKERS

Conference recalls that Resolution 26 of the 2003 UNISON Lesbian and Gay Conference noted that members with manual and part-time jobs and other workers who are low paid are under-represented at UNISON Lesbian and Gay Conference, compared to the proportion of these workers in the union as a whole. It instructed the NLGC to review […]

BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE

Conference welcomes the increased profile of lesbian and gay workplace issues in the work of many parts of our union, while acknowledging that there is still much to be done. Conference notes that since the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 came into force, advice on employment issues necessarily addresses bisexual workers as well as […]

SO1 – APPLICATION OF STANDING ORDERS

In Standing Order 1.2, delete first sentence and replace with: ‘The Standing Orders may be changed by Conference approving, with a two-thirds majority of those people present and voting, a motion which has appeared on both the preliminary and final Conference agendas, except for motions from the Black and Disabled Members Caucuses, which may only […]

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Conference notes with grave concern that in July 2000, Kent County Council banned the publishing, purchasing or distributing of material which “promote gay lifestyles” in its 600 schools, in anticipation of the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales. It is unfortunate that since the repeal of Section 28 in England and Wales late […]

TRADES UNION CONGRESS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER CONFERENCE

Conference recalls last year’s resolution calling upon the Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (TUC LGB&T) Committee to review whether arrangements for its annual conference best meet the needs of the maximum number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender trades unionists. Conference notes that UNISON raised this with the TUC which decided not […]

SEXUAL ORIENTATION REGULATIONS PUBLICITY – STONEWALL

Conference expresses it’s concern that the publicity material produced by Stonewall “Discrimination at work, It’s so over” funded by the DTI makes little reference to the role in which the trade union movement can play in enforcing the Sexual Orientation Regulations. Conference instructs the NLGC to work with Stonewall and the TUC (including the WTUC), […]

CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS BILL – PENSION PROPOSALS

This Conference welcomes the proposed legislation to establish Civil Partnerships, and believes that this will constitute a positive step forward in the legal recognition of our relationships. However, Conference is concerned that some of the proposals for survivor pensions are flawed and need revision. Conference believes: 1.Where a final salary scheme provides a spouse’s pension, […]

ORGANISING FOR LEARNING

The 2002 Employment Act gave lifelong Learning Advisers and Union Learning Representatives the same statutory rights as Stewards and Health and Safety Representatives. During the same year, UNISON rolled out a Union Learning Fund project aimed at developing UNISON’s capacity to organise around learning via a network of well trained and supported learning advisers and […]

ENSURING UNBLOCKED ACCESS TO SUITABLE EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES FOR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH GROUPS

Conference commends the progress made by the NLGC in its work with the Government and other organisations on last year’s recommendations to do with improving the range and availability of educational materials for young lesbians and gay men in schools and youth groups. Conference also welcomes the passing, at this year’s National Delegates Conference, of […]

JAMAICA – STOP THE HOMOPHOBIA

This Conference deplores the vicious murder of Brian Williamson in June 2004. Mr Williamson was one of the founder members of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), which seeks to achieve equality for all in Jamaica’s society. Conference further deplores the attacks by an active minority in the private homes of gay […]

BEST PRACTICE IN BLOOD COLLECTION FOR POTENTIAL DONORS

Conference requires the NLGC to have a meeting with the National Blood Service and Department of Health to ensure that “best practice” and inclusive processes are in place when blood collection in workplaces is taking place. Conference is concerned that when blood collection takes place in workplaces individuals could be “outed” when gay men who […]

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST POTENTIAL BLOOD DONORS

This Conference is dismayed that gay and bisexual men are still discriminated against by the National Blood Service, by being denied the opportunity to give blood. Conference is concerned that this is perpetuating an unwelcome and damaging myth that all gay and bisexual men present a danger to the health of others when, in fact, […]