Working for Inclusion

Conference believes a growing number of people identify with sexual orientations or gender identities outside of or in addition to the traditional concepts of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Conference believes that the most obvious place for these identities to be represented is within the LGBT Self Organised Group (SOG) due to the fact […]

Language Matters

Conference believes that inclusive language is important in ensuring that all people within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community feel welcome and valued. Conference also believes that language, and our understanding of language, is constantly evolving, and that as LGBT activists we should always be mindful of this. Conference is aware that within […]

Homophobic Teaching in Schools

It has become apparent through press reports on Thursday 19th June that over 30 schools across the UK are using textbooks from the US-based Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum, which teach amongst other abhorrent views: that Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) can be avoided through religion; that homosexuality is a sin and a choice; evolution is […]

LGBT workers’ rights – home and away

Conference recognises that, whilst there is still work to be done in improving rights and conditions for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the United Kingdom, these are still significantly better than those endured by many abroad. Homosexuality is still illegal and punishable in varying degrees in dozens of countries, one of which […]

What we want from a Labour Government

Conference will note the recent report from the National Centre for Social Research, highlighting the austerity measures introduced by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat (ConDem) coalition government. This report showed the cuts have had a disproportionate effect on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Many LGBT workers have found themselves out of work, struggling […]

Challenging sexism in the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community

Conference notes that because the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community does not exist in a vacuum, sexism looks fairly similar: white men hold power in our community; just as white (straight) men hold the power in the general population. Conference congratulates the National Union of Students (NUS) LGBT conference 2012 for overturning the […]

A caution with consequences?

Conference notes that when someone commits a minor crime, the police or Crown Prosecution Service can decide to give them an out-of-court disposal instead of taking the case to court. The disposal is often called a ‘caution’. Cautions are meant to be used for less serious crimes, for example low level criminal damage. Cautions are […]

HIV Prevention and Early Diagnosis

That this Conference notes that as of June 2013, 131,327 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections have been diagnosed in the UK since the epidemic (pandemic) began in the early 1980s: at least 21,350 are known to have died. The overwhelming majority (>95%) of HIV infections reported over the past 10 years in the UK were […]

For LGBT generations united

This conference believes there has been truly significant progress in achieving equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the workplace and society in the United Kingdom, but agrees there is still more to do reach true equality here, and much more so around the world. This conference believes that the work of […]

Rise of Homophobia Abroad and international LGBT rights

Conference is concerned about the spread of anti-gay legislation in a number of countries and alarmed at the growing cycle of intolerance where the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community are openly targeted and in many cases attacked. The growing evidence easily accessible on social media, for example, in parts of Russia where young […]

Transphobia in the Media

Conference congratulates Conchita Wurst on her Eurovision win and applauds her work in bringing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) issues to an international stage. Conchita Wurst is the drag alter ego of Tom Neuwirth who created the character to “call for tolerance for everything that is different.” It was fantastic to see a […]

Celebrating Equality in Energy Workplaces

Conference notes that workplace equality issues are often portrayed as difficult to handle, a minority interest and all about discrimination and prejudice. Conference believes that equality is not a problem but rather is something to celebrate in our energy workplaces. By celebrating equality and celebrating diversity we can help end the invisibility, isolation and marginalisation […]

Tackling Stress in Energy Workplaces

Conference welcomes the work done over many years by UNISON negotiators and reps in energy to highlight and tackle workplace stress. Conference is concerned that the current climate, with persistent threat to jobs, is placing particular stresses on energy members. There is micro-management, ever more pressure to meet targets, with fewer staff expected to get […]

Taking a Lead on Recruitment in the Energy Service Group

Conference notes that there are thousands of UNISON members working across the energy sector. Conference also notes that many energy companies have recently made staff redundant and there are plans for further redundancies and the off-shoring or out sourcing of jobs. Conference understands that in order to maintain union density and income, we will need […]

Getting Equality on the Bargaining Agenda and Winning it for Members

This Conference welcomes the work being done by the Business and Environment Equal Opportunities Working Group (BEEOWG) to promote the equalities agenda. Equalities have long been a priority for the Energy Service Group. Within the Energy service group we have a long and proud tradition of fighting for equality for all our members. Over the […]