Conference notes that the introduction of direct payments, along with pilots of Individual budgets, have the potential to increase choice and control for disabled and older women over the services they receive. However, we are concerned that there are insufficient safeguards to protect disabled women who choose to employ their own personal assistants as well […]
Conference motions
Sanitary protection is not a luxury for women but is a necessity. There may be more than one woman in a family and this is a drain on already stretched financial resources at a time when the cost of living continues to rise. Sanitary protection products maybe something that are cut back on at this […]
Conference is aware that many of our women members, particularly those in rural areas, experience personal isolation. Low pay contributes to women’s isolation for example by: 1)Limiting their access to public transport because of costs. 2)Accessing mothers’ babies and young children’s groups. 3)Educational courses, including UNISON’s Return to Learn and personal development to increase work […]
This Conference is proud of the reputation that UNISON has on International work. Within the Northern Region Women’s Network we have been developing links with Burma, Colombia and Palestine, especially in support of women and children in those countries with practical projects. These links show that many of the struggles are common to us all […]
Conference welcomes the recent changes to the frequency of smear testing from five years to every three years. However, this still is not frequent enough as women’s lives are still endangered. The legal age of consent is sixteen and this should be the age that smear tests commence. With the increase in the number of […]
Conference welcomes the recent increases in statutory maternity and adoption pay and allowances and the positive effects this is having on families. However, conference sadly notes that under current legislation a woman having a child through surrogacy is not entitled to any Maternity or Adoption leave. All they are eligible to is unpaid parental leave […]
Conference believes that all girls and women should have a future free from the fear of breast cancer and associated conditions. Conference supports the Government, the NHS and its staff in their continued commitment to improve breast cancer services in order to make the vision of a future free from the fear of breast cancer […]
Conference commends UNISON’s International work including Action Aid, Water and sanitation in Gaza, creating awareness of corporate tax evasion in developing countries, HIV and Aids in Southern Africa, to name just a few. Conference is, however, concerned about UNISON’s lack of work on the eradication of malaria, a killing machine that has, for so many […]
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 […]
After the disastrous results which saw the BNP pick up two European parliament seats, there is not doubt that the feeling of the British public has been widely expressed throughout the political process during the Council and European elections. They have delivered damning verdict the Labour government’s proposals to impose a National Identification card to […]
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 […]