Support for Trainee Probation Officers (PQiPS)

Conference notes with concern how many Trainee Probation Officers (PQiPS) are reporting work place stress, feeling inadequately supported, going off sick and in the worst scenarios, abandoning their training. The Probation Service has placed a huge financial investment into recruiting new trainee Probation Officers however, however have failed to ensure that there is enough support […]

Time to Pause and Reflect

Conference, reunification into one Probation Service was a triumph for the trade unions and proof that privatisation has no place in the work that we do. Probation staff in both the privatised and public parts of the organisation absorbed the huge amounts of turmoil and change whilst striving to continue delivering the service to our […]

More consistent support for Retired Members’ activity

This Conference acknowledges the substantial financial and other support given by the union for UNISON retired members activity, e.g. Retired Members’ Conference, and its other democratic structures and activities, providing staff resources, etc. This Conference recognises, however, that the level of support is not consistent across all branches and regions, and that this can lead […]

Retired Members at Self-Organised Group Conferences – Six Years On

Conference recalls the resolution of the 2016 Retired Members’ Conference, motion 35 as amended, “Retired Members at Self-Organised Group Conferences” which instructed the National Retired Members’ Committee (NRMC) to: “seek the views of retired women members, retired Black members, retired disabled members and retired lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members and, subject to gaining their […]

Operation Uplift – Career Pathways

Operation Uplift is part of this government’s pledge to recruit 20,000 additional Police Officers by March 2023. As of 31st March 2022 13,576, Officers had been recruited. This increase in Police Officer numbers is having an adverse effect on Police Staff. Many Police Officers are now taking up roles that have previously been held by […]

EQUALITY LIAISON COMMITTEE

Conference recalls the resolution of last year’s retired members conference, Ageism in a Covid Age (Motion 13 as amended.) The resolution called upon the Retired Members National Committee (RMNC) to work with the National Executive Council (NEC), Self-Organised Groups (SOGs), Young Members Organisation (YMO) and others to try to ensure that ageism is given priority […]

SCORES ON THE DOORS

SCORES ON THE DOORS Conference notes that at the conclusion of each National Retired Members’ Conference there is a ballot of suitable motions from which the two with the highest votes are chosen to be submitted to next year’s National Delegate Conference by the National Retired Members’ Organisation. However, Conference notes that only the two […]

FREE TV LICENCE FOR THE OVER 75-YEAR-OLDS

Conference recognises that it’s been nearly 2 years now since the BBC announced its intention to remove the free TV licence provision from the over 75s in 2020 [having been forced by the Conservative government to take over the funding of this social benefit]. Since then, the protests have never stopped! Groups including Age UK, […]

THE URGENT NEED FOR REFORM AND INCREASED INVESTMENT IN SOCIAL CARE.

This Conference notes that it has debated many motions over recent years on elderly social care. Everyone is aware of poor pay and training for staff; inadequate care for elderly people needing this help in residential and nursing homes or in their own home. There is a large turnover of care staff and this has […]

POVERTY FOR OLDER PEOPLE

Conference is concerned that over at least the last 5 there has been regressive changes to the state and other pension provision and to benefits older people are entitled to, including 165,606 UNISON retired members Just now more than 12 million older people in receipt of the State Pension are worse off after the Government […]

Card Only Transactions and Access to Cash

Conference notes that during the pandemic many organisations moved to introduce card only transactions in an effort to reduce the circulation of cash and therefore the risk of infection. Conference further notes that this practice is becoming more widespread which has the potential to cause serious difficulties for older people on limited incomes. Many older […]

Triple Lock

This Conference is appalled that the Chancellor did not take the opportunity, in his spring statement, to reinstate the triple lock in relation to the state pension. Conference notes that had the triple lock been applied the state pension would have been raised by about 8% in line with pay increases which were existent at […]

THE COST OF LIVING RISE AND ITS IMPACT ON OLDER PEOPLE

This Conference notes: – The emergence of a significant rate of inflation in the economy – The proposed increase in energy prices (gas and electricity) – The National Insurance increase by 1.25 percentage points – The six largest energy companies made in excess of £1billion profit in 2021 Whilst recognising that many older people do […]

Tax Allowance Fairness for Uniform Laundering

Conference notes that: 1)Police staff who are required to launder items of uniform at home are entitled to claim an annual allowance from HMRC to assist with the associated cost; 2)Currently, PCSOs are entitled to claim £140 tax allowance but other police staff can only claim £60; 3)Police officers are also entitled to claim £140. […]

PCSO 20th Anniversary

Conference welcomes UNISON’s PCSO20 campaign to celebrate the 20 year-anniversary of the creation of the PCSO role. Conference notes that PCSOs provide a highly visible police presence. They deter anti-social behaviour, provide reassurance, gather intelligence and work with businesses, schools and statutory partners to keep communities safe. PCSOs are a force for good. People love […]