Gender Reassignment and Workplace stress

Conference welcomes the partnership work between the Scottish Transgender Alliance and UNISON which has resulted in the creation of a new Guide for UNISON Reps on Supporting Transgender Members at Work. Conference also welcomes that the UNISON Bargaining Factsheet on Negotiating for Trans Workers’ Rights was updated in May to take account of the new […]

Playing Our Part – Mainstreaming Recruitment within our Self Organised Group

Conference notes that trade union membership density in most employers where UNISON has members has been falling in recent years and that less than one in two public sector workers are members of UNISON. Conference recognises that we need to grow in numbers and density to grow in influence with employers and the government and […]

Taking Our Place in Public Life

Conference notes that despite some high profile achievements, the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in public and political life remains low. Stonewall’s 2008 “Serves you Right” report found that there were no openly gay or lesbian people in the British cabinet, the Scottish cabinet or the Welsh cabinet. There were only […]

Homophobia in Sport

Conference welcomes the initiative launched by The Premiership and Football League in trying to rid football from homophobia. Whilst recognising that this is a good starting point, conference believes that more work is needed to ensure the campaign develops in success to the levels achieved by UNISON involvement in campaigns such as ‘Show Racism the […]

Outing Policies

Conference notes that by their very nature, sexual matters are private and confidential. Conference further notes that some people are comfortable talking about their partner but that many people do not share such information with their managers or colleagues. Conference supports organisations that make strenuous efforts to ensure confidentiality of procedures and information management systems […]

HIV Treatment Availability and Male Rape

This Conference expresses its disgust at all forms of sexual assault. Victims of such crimes deserve the full support of everybody and the full protection of the law. Conference notes that sex attacks on men could be reported less consistently than attacks on women; therefore male victims may remain invisible and unsupported. Conference notes that […]

Tackling Homophobia in Schools and Colleges

Conference notes that homophobic bullying causes permanent damage to young people and blights the schools and colleges where it takes place. Conference further notes that homophobia affects all pupils, students and staff regardless of their sexual orientation. Conference recognises that state schools in England and Wales have a duty of care to ensure the safety […]

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and LGBT Equality

Conference welcomes the creation of the EHRC whose job is to provide support to equality and human rights in England, Scotland and Wales, while in Northern Ireland (NI) the NI Equality Commission has existed for some time. Conference welcomes the fact that one of the areas prioritised by the Commission has been to litigate in […]

Inclusivity at Conference

Conference supports the organisation and participation of events to encourage and celebrate achievements and to promote the involvement of women, black members and disabled members who self define as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT). Conference welcomes and commends the work of the National LGBT Committee regarding the active and positive participation by those who […]

Building Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Equality in the Commonwealth

Conference welcomes: 1The UK Government’s stated commitment to working for the universal decriminalisation of homosexuality; 2The development and publication this year by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of a strategy and toolkit for promoting and protecting the rights of LGBT people; 3Increasing recognition of the Yogyarkarta Principles on the application of international human rights […]

European Union (EU) Anti-Discrimination Legislation

Conference notes that European Union law provides protection against sexual orientation discrimination – as well as age, disability, religion and belief – in the area of employment, but that there is currently no such protection in EU law against discrimination on these grounds in areas such as social protection, goods and services, health care and […]

Increasing Effective Participation of Low Paid LGBT Members

Conference welcomes the new UNISON Equality Scheme which, in addition to covering the statutory equality streams of gender, gender identity, race, disability, sexual orientation, age and religion/belief, also seeks to ensure equality within the union on the grounds of low pay. Conference acknowledges that although the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) self organised group […]

Ramping up the Fight Against the Far Right

Conference notes with concern that in the 2008 local elections the British National Party (BNP) made a net gain of 10 seats in England and Wales, bringing their total number of seats to 55. In London the British National Party (BNP) crossed the 5% hurdle needed to get a “party list” seat on the Assembly. […]

Working in Solidarity

Conference welcomes the progress made in raising the profile of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) participation in our union. We can be proud of our achievements in continuing to support and encourage self organisation at all levels of our union. Most of us take it for granted that we can organise and meet to […]

Equality at the Heart of our Union – Equal Means Making it Happen

Conference affirms that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality is an integral part of the organising and bargaining work of the union. Conference considers that UNISON’s Equality Scheme is a significant opportunity to achieve this. The purpose of the Equality Scheme is to make sure that equality is promoted and discrimination challenged in everything […]