Information and Consultation Directive

Conference believes that effective worker information and consultation is crucial, promoting the fairer treatment of the workforce and improving organisational performance. Too often employers consult the workforce inadequately or not at all, souring relations, depressing morale, and frequently leading to the implementation of decisions that are inappropriate and fail to reflect the reality of public […]

Choice, Equity and Accountabiilty in the NHS

Conference applauds the work of the union in campaigning against the introduction of foundation trusts and highlighting the marketisation of the NHS. Conference applauds in particular the sustained campaigning through the Labour Link which led to the overwheling rejection of foundation hospitals by the 2003 Labour party conference. Conference also recognises the important role played […]

Workforce Development

Conference believes that the Labour government has identified a huge deficit in the skills base of the country and has made positive efforts towards raising the skills levels of the workforce. The quantity and quality of skilled labour are important determinants of economic performance. Increasing the skill and qualification levels of the population increases the […]

Schedule C.5 Elections

Schedule C.5, third sentence: After “statements” insert “of a discriminatory, disparaging, racist or sexist nature or”

Review of the National Lay Membership Structure

This conference notes the actions taken to date by the Executive regarding the review of the Energy, Transport and Water and Environment service group structures at national level. Conference notes the outcome of the consultation exercise with all three service groups. Conference further notes that the majority of Water and Environment branches who responded have […]

Devolution

Conference welcomes the recent consultation exercise conducted by the National Executive Council on policy development, bargaining and devolution. In doing so, it also reaffirms the policy established by Composite L carried at the 2003 National Delegate Conference which agreed that UNISON’s continuing commitment to regional democracy relied on the government precluding the abolition of county […]

Challenging Homophobic Harassment

Conference notes: 1)the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003, which protect workers against discrimination, specifically including harassment, on the grounds of sexual orientation; 2)the seeming acceptability in certain circles of homophobia, including a number of famous music acts which encourage listeners to attack or even kill gay people; 3)a lawsuit registered with Cook County circuit […]

Removal of Intolerable Sickness Absence Sanctions

Conference condemns the introduction of intolerant and mandatory sickness absence sanctions such as the Bradford score, when used as part of managing attendance policies. The Bradford score can be set at any trigger point, whereby after a number of days off or a number of spells of absence a management action occurs. This crude approach […]

Pensions – The Right to Decide

Conference notes with concern the Labour Government’s proposals to make legislative changes to ensure that pension schemes do not allow individuals to receive their pensions before the age of 55. Since 1990 power companies have traditionally reduced staffing levels during reorganisations, mergers, outsourcing, relocation exercises etc. by natural wastage, early retirements and voluntary redundancies. Voluntary […]

Review of the National Lay Membership Structure

This Conference notes the actions taken to date by the Executive regarding the review of the Energy, Transport and Water & Environment service group structures at national level. Conference notes the outcome of the consultation exercise with all three service groups and in the light of this agrees that further work is necessary subject to […]

Government 10 Year Transport Plan – The Role of the Workforce

Conference welcomes the Government’s decision to review progress on achieving the aims of its 10 Year Transport Plan which, so far, has failed to produce any major improvements in public transport provision, significantly reduce road congestion and reduce deaths and casualties on out roads and railways. Conference notes that policy makers often overlook the role […]

Public Service – Public Transport?

This Conference notes that the Tory legacy of privatising local bus services in 1986 and the deregulation of rail services in 1994 has failed the travelling public of Britain miserably. This Conference calls upon the Transport Service Group Executive, in liaison with the NEC, to lobby the Government to reverse this failing Tory legislation and […]

Offshoring

Conference notes that the TUC estimates that between 150,000 and 200,000 jobs could be at risk in the private service sector due to work being offshored. Conference believes that offshoring on the scale envisaged is not inevitable but while it is happening the priority must be to defend our member’s jobs. Therefore we welcome work […]

Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation – Policing the New Legislation

Conference notes: i)That the long-awaited legislation protecting workers from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation has now been in force for a number of months; ii)That some equalities policies, such as the Centrica policy, already included sexual orientation, and others have now been amended. However, Conference further notes that there is still much to be […]

Contractor Deaths on Water Sites

This Water and Environment Conference is very concerned about the decline in safety standards on sites such as those managed by United Utilities whereby three sub-contractors (including one aged 17) have died since Autumn 2003″. We call upon UNISON’s lay and paid officials on the (National) Water and Environment Service Group Executive with responsibility for […]