Amendment to SO6, 6.1

After ‘National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee.’ INSERT ‘Or any other member of the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee as delegated and agreed by the Co-chairs of the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee.’

Amendment to SO3, 3.3.4

Delete para 3.3.4 and insert new 3.3.4 ‘If there is no other delegate to move the motion, then the motion and any amendments to it, falls. If there is no other delegate to move the amendment, then the amendment, falls.’

Sharer Delegates to Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Conference

Conference notes that each UNISON Branch is entitled to send 10 Delegates to Conference. Conference further notes that this lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) conference is unable to send sharer delegates to our conference? This branch believes that this restricts participation in our self-organised group. This is due to that fact that every delegation’s […]

Never too old to Agitate, Educate and Organise

Conference notes that over 65s are a growing proportion of society. This will have an impact on trades unions in a number of ways since: 1. The workforce will include a growing number of workers for whom retirement gets later and later and who make new organising demands; 2. Retired members will form a growing […]

Dignified Endings

Conference notes that the Pensioners Charter of the National Pensioners Convention refers to dignity, respect and fair treatment of older people in all aspects of their lives. Conference further notes that the Dignity Code also produced by the National Pensioners Convention calls for individuals to make up their own minds and for personal wishes such […]

EQUAL PENSIONS: END DISCRIMINATION IN SURVIVOR PEN

Conference condemns the continuing discrimination against civil partners and same sex married couples with regard to pensions and deplores the failure of the government to address the inequality of survivor pensions within occupational schemes. Conference asserts that the Treasury’s claims that equalisation in line with other survivors is unaffordable were misleading and inaccurate and that […]

A SINGLE COMBINED FREE TRAVEL PASS FOR BUS AND RAI

The bus pass providing pensioners for free off peak bus travel in England and Wales has helped their mobility largely on a local basis. However, many pensioners find the cost of rail fares, even after using the 30% discount of a Senior Rail Card, an expensive hindrance to frequent visiting of friends and family across […]

Pensions in the Community and Voluntary Sector

This Community Conference notes the ongoing crisis in pension provision affecting our members in Community and also that community and voluntary sector employees are among the lowest paid in society. The minimum level of auto-enrolment pensions is grossly inadequate; and employers continue to dumb down pension schemes to limit any possible financial risk to themselves. […]

CAMPAIGN FOR LIVING PENSIONS FOR THE ELDERLY AND R

Conference, elderly and retired people deserve to have a decent state pension. Conference asserts that the state pension is not a benefit but is ours by right. Conference believes that older people are being hit particularly hard by current austerity measures. The basic State Retirement Pension which for many on the 6th April, 2015 will […]

REVIEW COMMUNICATIONS WITH RETIRED MEMBERS

Conference notes that communications between branch, regional and national levels remains unsatisfactory as far as UNISON retired members are concerned. Conference is also concerned that there has been a failure to produce updated literature on retired members matters such as the Branch Retired Members Secretary’s Handbook, the UNISON Code of Practice for Older People and […]

Union Busting in the UK Housing Association and Charitable Sector

This conference notes: That a small number of Housing associations and other Charities in our sector are openly hostile to trade unions, carry out American style anti union practices and refuse to recognise trade unions. The right of free assembly and collective bargaining is a fundamental human right enshrined in international law. Any failure by […]

Volunteering

Conference reiterates our belief, set out in Motion 11 at Community Conference 2010, that volunteers play a valuable role in many areas of society, including in the community and voluntary sector and in trade unions. We agreed that “Conference believes that paid staff and volunteering roles are different, and volunteering should not be used by […]

Staffing Shortages in the Community & Voluntary Sector and the Impact on Young People

Conference notes with concern that many charities and third sector organisations are currently short staffed but are unwilling or unable to hire new staff members due to cost. Staffing shortages in the Community & Voluntary Sector are having a negative impact on workers lives, particularly young workers. In particular, staffing shortages can impact on: 1) […]

LGBT Austerity in the Community Sector

Conference notes the research carried out by NatCen for UNISON in late 2013 which showed the impact of austerity on services for LGBT people including those services delivered by the community and voluntary sector. It revealed devastating cuts to services but also showed that austerity has had a negative impact on job security, terms and […]

Organising for Equality in the Community Sector

Conference welcomes the updated “Organising for Equality: UNISON guidelines on self organisation”. In the forward to the guidance, Dave Prentis, our General Secretary states that “Self-organisation is an essential tool helping the union to identify and challenge discrimination and build equality. It can be a way for members to get involved in the union, developing […]