Organising for Equality – Training

Conference welcomes the publication of “Organising for Equality – UNISON Guidelines on Self Organisation”. However, conference regrets how briefly these guidelines discuss training. Conference considers there needs to be systematic availability of training to members of self-organised groups and further training on the roles and responsibilities of officers and representatives. Conference instructs the National LGBT […]

The Equalities Review

This conference expresses concern about some of the findings and recommendations that The Equalities Review published in its Interim Report for Consultation. In particular, conference considers that: 1.The report’s rejection of a ‘strand-based’ approach is merely a fig-leaf to ignore or downplay certain strands especially gender identity; 2.It relies too much on academic research and […]

Publicity Materials and Training on Transgender Issues

Conference acknowledges the amount of LGBT publicity materials and information documents produced by UNISON. Conference, however, notes that Transgender specific materials are limited. Conference is also aware that training on Transgender issues for UNISON members is very patchy, while welcoming the work that is being done, for example by Northern Ireland and Scotland LGBT groups. […]

British National Party

Conference notes with alarm: 1.The British National Party’s (BNP) advance in the English local elections of May 2006; 2.The BNP’s electoral success and media attention in May has encouraged it to contest local government by-elections even more widely than before; and 3.The BNP Council Manifesto, its official monthly magazine and other media and spokespeople have […]

Pressing for Change – The Continuing Campaign for Transgender Equality

Conference welcomes the UNISON response to the Government’s consultation on anti-discrimination in the area of goods facilities and services on the grounds of sexual orientation and expresses its gratitude to those regions, branches and members who contributed to the consultation. Conferences notes that UNISON included in its response its demand that the omission of anti-discrimination […]

Women’s Participation

Conference welcomes the ongoing work and consultation regarding women’s participation in the LGBT self organised group following motions carried at the 2005 LGBT Conference. Conference recognises that the time scale of a year was not sufficient to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive consultation took place which included the views of LGBT women who are not […]

Conference Action Report

Conference recalls: 1.The resolution of the fourth National Lesbian & Gay Conference (1996) to instruct the National Lesbian & Gay Committee to produce and circulate to regional groups a detailed action plan within ten weeks of the close of conference; and 2.The resolution of the eleventh National Lesbian & Gay Conference (2003) to instruct the […]

Palestine – No Pride in Occupation

Conference recalls the resolutions on Palestine of the Twelfth UNISON Lesbian & Gay Conference and the First UNISON Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Conference. It reaffirms those decisions but regrets to note how little progress has been made to carry them out. Conference instructs the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGB&T) Committee to review […]

Library Stock of Interest to Transgender People

Conference understands that, although books and other written materials of interest to transgender people do get published, their print runs are often limited, they go out of print quickly, and they are not widely advertised around the library and bookseller world. In addition Conference believes that although films, videos and DVDs of interest do exist, […]

Supporting the Work of ILGA and Developing UNISON’s International LGBT Work

This Conference acknowledges the campaign contribution of ILGA as an expression of international solidarity for LGBT communities across the world and as the only genuinely world wide LGBT affiliation based organisation which has for a number of years been a core focus of our international solidarity work. Conference further recognises that our work with ILGA […]

The Ongoing Campaign Around Blood, Organ and Bone Marrow Donation

Conference notes that Resolution 92, passed at the UNISON National Delegate Conference 2006, called for a review of research that currently means the National Blood Service bans Gay or Bisexual men from donating blood. Conference further notes that the resolution also asks that UNISON has effective input into any National Blood Service review of the […]

Participation and Confidentiality

Conference notes that participation and confidentiality in relation to attendance at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Conference is paramount. Conference is therefore dismayed by the decision to add the Police Staff Service Group Seminar and Conference onto the ‘back’ of our Conference. This decision raises serious concerns of confidentiality in that there is […]

Promoting Branch Self-Organisation

Conference notes with some concern that many UNISON branches in the UK do not appear to have an active Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender self organised group (LGBT SOG). Conference believes that branch-level LGBT SOGs are a key way to ensure visibility of the diverse LGBT agenda within branches, and that they serve as a […]

Conference Attendance and Accountability

Conference notes with increasing concern that Conference business is liable to fall from the agenda if delegates are not on the Conference floor at the appropriate time. Conference should recognise that the funding of attendance is from national, regional and branch level and as such delegates have a responsibility to their branch/region to ensure that […]

Operational Staff Groups

Conference notes that a number of public sector employers are engaged in a process of setting up staff groups, from workers who self-identify within equality and diversity strands. Examples are groups for women, for black and minority workers, for disabled workers and for LGBT workers. These groups can inform and advise the employer on matters […]