RECRUITING AND ORGANISING IN PRIMARY CARE

Conference welcomes the excellent work of the primary care campaign to date and recognises the importance of the work already underway within UNISON to develop a training programme for stewards in primary care settings. Conference recognises the difficulties involved in recruiting potential members within primary care trusts, which are often dispersed over wide geographical areas, […]

PRIMARY CARE

Conference notes the current trend in government policy towards shifting the balance of health care provision towards primary care and away from acute sector provision. Conference reaffirms its opposition to the continued move towards increasing contestability and fragmentation in the provision of primary care services. Conference believes that this move will lead to a poorer […]

NHS LOGISTICS

In September 2006, NHS Logistics showed their solidarity in strength with two one-day strikes, the 1st in the NHS for nearly 20 years. More than 85% were protesting about new labours continuing use of the private sector in the NHS. Unfortunately, NHS Logistics Members now have to work under DHL and a new name “NHS […]

BLUE LIGHT WORKERS & THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT

This Conference is concerned about the increasing number of members involved in Blue Light duties who are being subjected to punitive actions by their health service employers when their diabetes status is declared. Branches have reported that neighbouring fire and police authorities are continuing to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act […]

Definition of Violence Against Women

Research at national and international level has consistently shown that domestic violence is a form of gender specific violence. Violence against women is a violation of internationally guaranteed human rights, rights which the United Kingdom (UK) has signed up to, such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against […]

Women’s Promotional Materials

Many years have elapsed since we had ‘women in UNISON’ t-shirts, badges and literature available for promotional events, recruitment campaigns and collective identity. Although some individual branches and regions have sourced their own items for particular events, we miss having a national supply of ‘women in UNISON’ goods that we can all access, use and […]

White Ribbon Campaign

For years Women in UNISON have been active in the campaign “Raise the Roof on Domestic Violence”. This campaign has made great progress and now men have launched their own campaign on violence and women. On the White Ribbon campaign website, www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk/, it states that the “White Ribbon Campaign UK is the United Kingdom branch […]

No Means No

Conference is appalled to note that, according to data from Rape Crisis : 1)one in four women have experienced rape or attempted rape; 2)one in seven women have been coerced into sex, rising to one in three among divorced and separated women; 3)the most common perpetrators of rape are husbands and partners; 4)ninety-seven per cent […]

The Women and Work Commission Recommendations

Conference notes that the government has responded to the Women and Work Commission’s report, and has published an action plan “From the playground to the boardroom”, which is designed to break down barriers to women’s achievement. Measures include: 1)the roll-out of new ‘Equality Reps’ across England; 2)a major new ‘Exemplar Employer Initiative’ – the government […]

Breast Cancer Awareness ‘Pink Products’

Conference recognises the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month each year and welcomes any initiative that raises the public knowledge of this cruel disease. Conference acknowledges and applauds the fundraising efforts of retailers who contribute to the campaign by promoting the sale of ‘Pink Products’. However, Conference is concerned that, in some cases, consumers who […]

Modern Day Slavery

The plight of many women held against their will and used as sex slaves came to the public’s attention during the World Cup in Germany, however this is only the tip of the iceberg. In Britain there are estimated to be at least 5,000 women who may be working as prostitutes after being trafficked to […]

Workplace Policies on Domestic Abuse

The issue of domestic abuse is not a new issue but an ongoing one. Many women of all nationalities and cultures suffer in their everyday work and domestic life. The consequences are many and varied and may include physical, psychological, cultural and financial abuse. The abuse can be continuous or sporadic and often occurs during […]

Psychometric Testing – a Barrier to Discriminate Black People

UNISON welcomes the efforts made so far by councils, the National Health Service, and other public service providers in Great Britain, who have committed themselves, to fully implement and mainstream equality. In claiming equality of opportunity and fairness, many public service providers use psychometric tests as part of their selections and recruitment process for technical, […]

Support for Black Members’ and Activists

Conference reaffirms UNISON’s reliance on active stewards/officers in all workplaces, covering all groups of members, for organising and delivering for members. Therefore support given to stewards/officers to enable them to do their job must be a central priority at all levels within the union. It is noted that such volunteer representatives give considerable commitment, often […]

Claiming our Children from the Streets

With increased cuts in youth services and the impact this has on young people in inner city communities’ Conference notes with concern the level of youth offending and gang cultures. Conference notes with great concern the most recent spate of black on black violence manifesting in street robberies assaults and in some instances the murder […]