Including Retired Member (1)

Conference recalls motion 10 carried at 2010 UNISON lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Conference which noted the anomaly in the self-organised group’s (SOG) structure that, whereas at branch level and at open meetings at other levels LGBT retired members may take part and speak for themselves, at this conference they are silenced and must […]

Holy Redundant – Remove Bishops From Parliament

Conference notes that current proposals to reform the House of Lords include retaining automatic seats for twelve Church of England Bishops. Conference finds such a proposal a ludicrous affront to equality since it amounts to reserving seats in parliament for heterosexual men and celibate gay and bisexual men. Conference also notes the negative role the […]

There For You

Conference notes that: 1)UNISON Welfare is an independent charity supported by UNISON; 2)In 2011 the charity issued new publicity material with a slogan “There For You”; and, 3)This publicity made much use of photographs of people who might be taken to be UNISON members who have benefited from the charity and/or who have been its […]

There is no place for Transphobia

Conference believes that transphobia and bullying of trans people can still be common place in our workplaces and society, but unfortunately it can sometimes occur within in our union. Many transgender workers face a difficult time at work, but when they turn to their trade union they expect a much better response. Conference it seems […]

Living Wage v Dickensian Poverty

The Eastern Region is a large mainly rural area including Norfolk, which is the sixth most deprived county in England. Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Kings Lynn and Thetford are ranked in the top 10% of most deprived areas in England, based on the Index of Deprivation. There are also hidden pockets of deprivation scattered across the […]

Keep the English, Welsh and Scottish Defence Leagues in Your Sights

Conference, most people know that the British National Party (BNP) is a racist party, however fewer people realise that the English Defence League (EDL), Welsh Defence League (WDL) and Scottish Defence League (SDL) are also racist, fascist parties. What is particularly worrying about the EDL, WDL and SDL is that they proclaim themselves to be […]

Defending LGBT Public Services and Jobs

Conference deplores the Tory-led government’s brutal and unnecessary cuts on public services many of which have had a particular impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and young people. Conference further deplores the increased age threshold to 35 for full housing benefit entitlement. Cuts to public sector funding have had a knock on effect […]

Hate Crime – on the increase in times of austerity

Racist and other violence motivated by hatred towards a particular group is a common problem in Europe and the United Kingdom. Unfortunately with attacks reported on ethnic and religious minorities, asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people and other vulnerable groups in recent years hate crime seems to be on the […]

Mental health and drug treatment services for LGBT people

Gay men in Scotland are nearly eight times more likely to have attempted suicide in the last year and four times more likely to have taken drugs than heterosexual men, according to a survey by Stonewall Scotland from earlier this year. The survey of gay and bisexual men’s health found that 3% of gay men […]

Austerity and devolution

In Motion 106 carried at the 2011 National Delegate Conference we called on UNISON to develop a powerful campaign of strategic political action, strategic industrial action, strategic legal challenge and direct action by local communities to create the widest possible engagement of the people in response to the UK government’s attack on the welfare state […]

Police and Crime Commissioners

In November 2012 elections will take place to elect Police and Crime Commissioners. These individuals will replace the existing Police Authorities in the counties they represent. So far, little has been publicised about this election process, so few of the electorate, including many of our members are aware of it. Whilst this change will impact […]

Rule I Disciplinary Action

Delete Rule I.3 and replace with: “I.3 The National Executive Council shall have the power to exclude or expel, as the case may be, from membership of UNISON any individual who gives encouragement to, or participates in the activities of, or is a member of, a political party or organisation whose constitution, aims or objectives […]

Rule K Conditions

Rule K 6 After “fails to pay contributions”, insert: “at the correct rate as set out in Schedule A,”

Rule C Becoming a Member

Rule C 5.2 Delete existing rule and replace with: “5.2 A member of a political party or organisation, whose constitution, aims or objectives is/are expressly or impliedly contrary to the equality objectives of UNISON set out in Rules A.3 and/or B1.2 and/or B1.3 of the UNISON Rule Book, shall not be eligible for membership of […]

Local Government services

Conference is fundamentally opposed to the sustained attack on public services resulting from the savage cuts to local government funding being inflicted over 5 years by the ideologically driven Tory led government. These drastic cuts in spending fail to recognize the need of the country to grow our way out of recession and are devastating […]