Training Support Staff in the Learning and Skills Sector

Delivering world class skills has become a national priority. It is predicted that the percentage of the working population needing recognised qualifications will rise dramatically by 2020. Colleges are being forced to focus on delivering employability for young people and Train to Gain and Learner Accounts are part of the Government’s strategy for workforce development. […]

Equality and Sexual Orientation: The Leadership Challenge for Further Education

Conference welcomes the positive initiative by the Centre for Excellence and Leadership (CEL) and its report on Equality and Sexual Orientation. It aims to support managers, staff, students and trade unions to effectively develop positive policies on sexual orientation. UNISON worked with CEL and other key stakeholders on this initiative. The findings revealed an alarming […]

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME

Conference notes the current position in respect of the “New Look” Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and in respect of protection for those adversely affected by the withdrawal of the “Rule of 85”. This conference condemns the fact that the union’s position on the 85 year rule moved from full protection to securing transitional protection […]

FUTURE PAY CLAIMS

Conference welcomes the fact that at the end of the former three year pay deal and to prepare a pay claim for 2007 the National Local Government Service Group Executive consulted members with a view to submit a claim that had the widespread support of members. Conference also notes that the 2007 pay claim was […]

Local Government White Paper – Prosperous Communities

This Conference notes the publication of the recent Government White Paper – Prosperous Communities. This Conference notes that for prosperous communities to exist, it requires there to be people in well paid jobs including the public sector. This conference further notes that the movement away from the provision of services by well funded public sector […]

Continuous Service

This Conference is dismayed by the lack of success in negotiating a change in rules regarding continuous service. A motion was unanimously passed three years ago and yet still people who leave and come back to Local Government have to start building up service time to count for extra annual leave from scratch. We urge […]

Two Tier Workforce and the Community and Voluntary Sector

Conference notes and supports the important historical role the community and voluntary sector has provided in shaping public services – not as an alternative for directly-employed public sector workers, but as an innovator, working with local authorities and campaigning for new ideas and ways of working. Conference also notes the Code of Practice on Workforce […]

Short Term Funding in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Conference notes the increase in provision of public services by the community and voluntary sector in recent years, and the government’s determination to increase the scope and speed of transfers to the sector. The Treasury’s Third Sector Review Interim Report and the Cabinet Office’s Third Sector Action Plan (both December 2006) set out a range […]

EARLY YEARS CHILDCARE PROVISION

Conference notes that the Government’s policy of marketisation of public services extends to childcare. The Childcare Bill 2006 states that “English local authorities may not provide childcare for a particular child or group of children unless the local authority are satisfied: 1.no other person is willing to provide the childcare (whether in pursuance of arrangements […]

CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROFIT MOTIVES IN THE NHS

This conference condemns attempts by some Trusts to introduce individual pay packages and profit sharing schemes in the NHS noting that the profit motive should have no place in our NHS. Accordingly conference urges Branches to oppose such moves in their areas through campaigns etc. Conference also urges Branches to affiliate to the Socialist Health […]

ZERO TOLERANCE IN CRITICAL CARE AREAS

This Conference asks the Service Group Executive to mount national action to drive forward the Zero Tolerance campaign of no verbal abuse, aggression or unacceptable behaviour towards healthcare staff. Conference is particularly concerned at the growing problem of aggression from visitors to frontline staff such as bedside nurses working in clinical areas in High Dependency, […]

THE NEED FOR CONTINUED WHITLEY PAY SCALES FOR MEMBERS OUTSIDE AFC

Conference notes that a significant number of UNISON health members have not yet had the opportunity to access the Agenda for Change system, particularly those employed in the voluntary sector. Many of these members transferred out of the NHS in areas such as learning disability services on TUPE protected Whitley scales. Some of the staff […]

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION FOR THE NHS

Conference is appalled that the NHS is still suffering unprecedented devastating attacks from the government in terms of cuts and marketisation. In view of this, Conference censures the Health Service Group Executive for failing to carry out 2006 Health Conference Policy, as resolved in Motion 11, to organise a national demonstration on the issue of […]

ENDING THE TWO-TIER WORKFORCE IN LEARNING DISABILITY SERVICES

Conference notes that a significant number of UNISON health members in learning disability services have been transferred out of the NHS. These members undertake similar roles to before their transfer, often working with the same service users. Staff transferred in this way normally had TUPE protection of their existing terms and conditions, but have generally […]

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANTS REGISTRATION AND TRAINING

Conference notes UNISON’s campaign for Healthcare Assistants to be regulated, and the outcome of our consultation identified their wish to be regulated by the Health Professions Council. However, Conference also notes with strong concern that training for HCAs has been cut back in many areas as a result of the financial crisis, caused by the […]