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

Conference notes that: 1)the UK continues to face a crisis in its pensions provisions for the future; 2)despite government initiatives such as raising payments to the poorest pensioners, free eye tests and the winter fuel allowance, too many pensioners are still condemned to live and die in poverty; 3)there are widespread moves in private sector […]

Restoration of the Value of the State Pension

Conference notes the introduction of the pensioner credits scheme and notes that more than one million pensioners have not made application for such credits. The low take-up rate of these means-tested benefits was thoroughly predictable Conference believes that restoration of the state pension scheme to its former monetary value is the proper way forward and […]

Transport Policy

Conference notes the success of the free bus travel system in Wales which has extended travel to all persons aged over 60 and disabled people. The Welsh system allows travel on any one, or a series of, buses for journeys beginning and ending in Wales. The benefits have been substantial and have led to an […]

Organisation of Young Members

Conference notes: 1) the hard work and commitment of activists at branch, regional and national level that resulted in the excellent young members’ recruitment figures for 2003, and that this is recognised as an essential part of UNISON’s work in building a sustainable, organised union; 2)that successful campaigning/organising work led by young members around workplace […]

National Minimum Wage

Conference notes that: 1)UNISON’s latest submission to the Low Pay Commission provides a radical and progressive solution to the problem of low paid young workers; 2)UNISON welcomes the government’s decision to introduce a minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds, from 1 October 2004. However, we are concerned that the government chose to retain […]

International Policy

International developments, whether economic, social or political, affect all areas of UNISON’s membership. Conference, in recognising this, notes that one of the founding principles of the union was that of international solidarity and friendship with trade unions overseas and in particular with unions struggling against the forces of oppression, privatisation and injustice. For decades we […]

Employment Rights in the UK

Conference welcomes the government’s employment rights bill 2003 but believes that it does not go far enough, leaving workers in Britain with less protection than those employed in the rest of Europe. We welcome those provisions that build on the Employment Rights Act of 1999, improving the process of recognition and establishing important and consultation […]

Elderly Persons’ Homes

Conference notes with concern the increasing number of local authority elderly person’s homes which have transferred with the transfer to private companies. Conference believes that a well-funded and accountable local authority provision of this service is essential to the establishment and maintenance of high standards across all providers of this service. Conference also notes that […]

Home Care Inspections

The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is a new, independent public body set up under the Care Standards Act 2000, to regulate social care and private and voluntary health care services. From 1 April 2002 the NCSC took responsibility for the registration and inspection of services including care homes, replacing the previous system of inspection […]

Widows’ Pension Rights

Conference urges the National Executive Council to take every possible action, including under the Human Rights Act 1998 if appropriate, to remedy the injustices, inequalities and discrimination contained in the Local Government Pensions Scheme Regulations in relation to members’ provision for widows and widowers of post-retirement marriages.

Conference Attendance Quotas

Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to establish a fair quota system relating to branch members attending National Retired Members conference. Their proposals to be submitted to the 2004 National Retired Members Conference.

Council Tax/Pension Increase

Conference urges the National Retired Members’ Committee to use its best endeavours to obtain the support of the National Executive Council in establishing a fair and equitable balance between annual pension increases and annual council tax increases by way of appropriate rebate.

The Economy

Conference remains concerned that, despite the relative health of the UK economy compared to other industrialised countries, there are still enormous imbalances between the health of the private services sector and the decline of manufacturing, between regions and between the rich and the poor. There is also a vulnerability to the collapse of a debt-financed […]

Cost of Non-Residential Care

Conference wishes to express its concern that local authorities across the country are raising the cost of non-residential personal or nursing care to those most vulnerable who rely on these important services. Conference calls on the National Retired Members’ Committee to ask the National Executive Council to mount a campaign under the “Right to Care” […]