Playworkers

Conference believes that Playwork and Playworkers are having a very difficult and threatening time due to various local authorities making cuts in play provision and services at a time when they are already grossly underfunded. Playwork has been disrespected and misunderstood despite vast evidence of the great value of the work. Cuts are being made […]

Strategic Area Reviews (STARS) and FE/6th Form Colleges

This Local Government Service Group Conference notes with concern the vast amounts of money controlled by unelected, unaccountable quangos in the UK and the influence, for good or bad, on the lives of all of our members. This is perhaps demonstrated most clearly in the case of Boards of Management, which are the governing bodies […]

Reimbursement of extra expense incurred as a result of attending court at short notice

Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to enter into negotiations at the Police Staff Council to reimburse the additional costs (i.e. childcare) incurred by Police Staff when attending court on behalf of the Police Authority at short notice.

Agency Workers in Local Government

This Conference notes: 1)The large number of staff employed as agency staff within local government 2)That the employers in local government use agency staff as a measure to deal with what are long term recruitment and retention problems which are attributable to poor pay, terms and conditions 3)Agency staff are also used as a measure […]

Privatisation of Education

Conference notes with concern the undermining of comprehensive education and the incremental and multi faceted process of privatisation and the continued marketisation of education which has taken place since 1997 through private management of state schools; privatisation of LEA functions; and the continued use of PFI. The Government’s 5 year strategy for education will speed […]

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill

This Conference welcomes the provision of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill which allows for the further expansion of Police Staff into more front line roles within the Police Service. However Conference is concerned that the provision of Police Staff in the role of designated custody officer could lead to the privatisation of custody […]

Facility Time and Shift workers

This Conference is concerned at the continued difficulties faced by UNISON activists who are shift workers. It is likely that shift workers bear the brunt of inadequate facility time because: 1) Police Staff work in posts where release is more difficult because of their involvement in direct emergency service delivery 2) Facilities agreements do not […]

Service Group Seminar

Conference notes the decision made by the Service Group Executive with regard to the provision of the Service Group Seminar in 2005, in that branches are to provide their own accommodation. This Conference is concerned that this decision was made before the Service Group Liaison Committee and the National Executive Committee had provided their reports […]

Climate Change

Conference notes the statement of the chairperson of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, warning that global warming is nearing a point of no return and calling for very deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. We further note that the United States and Australia continue to refuse to ratify the seven year […]

Privatisation of Education

Conference notes with concern the incremental and multi-faceted process of privatisation and marketisation of education which has taken place under the Labour government through private management of state schools, privatisation of Local Education Authority (LEA) functions and education provision, and use of Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The government’s five year strategy for education will speed […]

Police Staff Discipline

Police employers approach discipline in a unique manner, it is often a mixture of criminal and employment procedures. Police Staff are often treated like criminals on occasion and suffer unnecessary distress as a result. Conference believes that Police Staff should be treated appropriately. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to provide appropriate guidance, including legal […]

Pensionable Pay

Conference notes that the proposed 2008 Pension Regulations include an increase in employee contributions for many employees whilst also proposing pensionable pay to be based on basic pay only excluding bonuses and shift allowances. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1) Lobby Parliament to ensure that all gross pay elements will be pensionable. In […]

Improving Access to Facility Time

According to UNISON figures, almost a quarter of UNISON reps are not given paid time off and a further fifth only receive one hour or less a week. It is likely that women activists bear the brunt of inadequate facility time because: 1)most facility time agreements are old and have not been adjusted to reflect […]

Sickness Absence

Conference notes with some concern the rising prevalence of employer policies dealing with managing sickness absence. Conference is concerned that these policies are implemented without proper negotiations with branches and, as a consequence, the policies perpetrate discrimination against women. Branches are often not properly trained or equipped to assist women when they are subject to […]

Women’s Conference Locations

Conference notes that this year’s conference location is Plymouth. Whilst recognising the restrictions on choice for the conference, due to the scale of the event, this meeting states its concerns with the location chosen. Whilst accepting that any location chosen should have a good standard of facilities we are concerned that the remote geographic location […]