Term of Office on National Lesbian and Gay Committee

Conference instructs the National Lesbian and Gay Committee (NLGC) to increase the term of office for NLGC representatives from one to two years.

Civil Registered Partnerships

Conference notes that family law relating to lesbian and gay couples and unmarried heterosexual couples is currently being developed on a case by case basis in the UK. This has led to seemingly contradictory rulings by different courts in the different UK legal systems. Conference welcomes the introduction of partnership registers by the Greater London […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Publicity for Black Members’ Conference

Conference notes that this is the tenth Conference that the National Black Members’ Committee has held but there has never been any occasion where the mass media – press, local and national newspapers and television – have given publicity to the National Black Members’ Conference, especially on the first day of Conference by interviewing key […]

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Conference welcomes the introduction of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, but believes if it is to provide a framework to improve race equality in public services then UNISON nationally should be preparing regions and branches to face the challenges ahead by ensuring the Stephen Lawrence Report is acted upon by responding to the MacPherson […]

Opposition to the Proposed Single Equality Commission

The Government has announced that it intends to create a single equality commission to champion women, gay people, ethnic minorities, the elderly and disabled people. If this radical merger takes place it could dilute the rights of different minority groups. The Government’s intention is to have one body that can enforce the rapidly expanding body […]

Institutional Racism

It has been almost ten years since the death of Stephen Lawrence. In that time we have heard Dave Prentis say: “UNISON believes that tackling the problem of institutional racism within public services is essential not only for black workers but also to improve public services”. This is why it is important to establish what […]

Support the European Social Forum

Conference welcomes the organisation of a European Social Forum (ESF) in Italy in November 2002. We believe the ESF will be a unique chance for anti-racist activists and trade unionists from across Europe to come together and discuss how to organise against free market policies and Bush and Blair’s war. We support the Call of […]

The Infiltration of the British National Party (BNP) into the Political Landscape

The issue of race is sensitive now as at anytime in the 25 years of the Commission for Racial Equality’s existence. The far right is on the rise across Europe and, in this country, the BNP has gained a foothold in local government and this is very disturbing. There have been race riots in several […]

Diwali and Ramadan Celebrations

Conference believes that the National Black Members’ Committee over the last five years has compromised the attendance of black members from the Hindu and the Muslim community in attending the National Black Members’ Conference. Each year the National Black Members’ Conference is scheduled in either late October or early November and therefore these dates have […]

Implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

UNISON has worked tirelessly since the death of Stephen Lawrence to influence a change to the Race Relations Act. We now have those changes and must continue to make a concentrated commitment throughout UNISON at all levels to ensure that all employers, including private sector employers adhere to the recommendations and their statutory duties under […]

Race Riots

Conference applauds the contributions made by the black community leaders in bringing peace and harmony to the race riot torn cities in Britain last summer 2001. Britain saw some of the worse forms of race riots in cities like Oldham, Burnley and Bradford due to the weak local political leadership, poor regeneration initiatives and inequitable […]