In rural areas many older LGBT people can be left feeling isolated and unsupported. Very often the support networks and access to services and health provisions enjoyed by older LGBT people living in urban areas is just non existent in rural areas. Conference it is vital for the mental and physical well being of our […]
Conference motions
Conference commends the work of the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Committee with regards to raising awareness across this union of issues affecting LGBT members. It also notes the guides and toolkits provided previously. It is worrying however that there still remains a lack of awareness of LGBT issues within branches. Whilst it […]
Conference notes that equality is the centre of everything UNISON does. Conference welcomes the new role of Equality Rep within UNISON and the workplace. Conference notes that many of our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) members face discrimination and inequality in the workplace on a daily basis. Conference notes the importance of having Equality […]
Conference believes that young people are amongst those most likely to suffer as a consequence of the damaging policies being pursued by the Con-Dem Government. Conference also believes that: 1.The job losses predicted by the Treasury of up to 600,000 jobs in the public sector and up to 700,000 in the private sector will have […]
Conference notes the devastation caused by the earthquake that has struck the Caribbean Island of Haiti. Reports have revealed that over 200,000 Haitians have died, including nursing staff, volunteers and other aid workers. The Haitian government estimate that 1.5 million have been left homeless in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and are sleeping on the streets […]
The number of Black Members attending National Delegates Conference is significantly low. Often Black Members in our branches are not aware or provided the opportunity to attend National Delegate Conference, despite UNISON having rules on proportionality and fair representation. Currently National Black Members Committee mandates 2 members to attend NDC in line with their constitution. […]
NBMC welcomes the Government’s commitment to introduce new in the Equality Bill. UNISON Black members have experienced the full effects of the recession and have felt its significant impact within the workplace especially in terms of reduction of staffing in key positions roles and services. The new bill has a few key elements that impact […]
Conference notes the rise of the far right in Europe. Conference is appalled that two BNP members have been elected as MEP’s in Britain. The economic recession is leading to a further rise in racism and in attacks on the asylum and refugee community, especially in the run up to the General Election. We must […]
It has been reported in the media (BBC London News 6.6.09) that the Metropolitan Police Service in 2008 had stopped 170,000 people which led to only 65 arrests under the Government’s stop and Search Act. This statement if true is disgraceful and needs to be placed in some sort of context. UNISON has long been […]
This conference welcomes the long awaited review of the United Nations (UN) Durban World Conference Against Racism took place in Geneva from 20th to 24th April 2009. The conference news was dominated by the absence of “key” countries such as America, Canada and Australia and the “controversial” speech by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian Prime Minister […]
We recognise and welcome the Single Equality Bill which will change Discrimination Legislation in important ways. We recognise the significance of the clause on positive action and measures to redress historic discrimination in the recruitment and promotion of Black and other discriminated groups. However this Bill provides an opportunity to go beyond monitoring statistics and […]
This conference would like to raise the issue of the current process of electing Black NEC members to the reserved Black seats. Presently this process is open to the whole membership of our union. We believe that any election to these seats should only be voted on by Black members as the seats are for […]
This conference notes that the RMS system still does not record data on the ethnic origins of all our members. Information is collected on members joining branches, however a member could change job in their workplace and never complete a membership update form. In order to have accurate records on the ethnic origins of all […]
UNISON was actively instrumental in winning August 23 as the National Slavery Memorial Day in 2007. However the response of our union in leading and organising Black workers and others to commemorate this day has been very low key or in some cases non-existent. The union must commit to a regionally supported event and an […]
This conference welcomes the work of UNISON’s International committee, Labour link and UNISON departments working on a range of issues. However, there is concern that the needs and interests of Black members appear not to be taken as seriously as other sections of UNISON. For instance, the non participation of UNISON at the UN World […]