Some day my prints will come

Conference notes that, despite numerous protests including references to the National Retired Members’ Committee and motions to the National Retired Members’ Conference, the Conference Bulletin containing all the vital administrative information about this year’s Conference was made available on line only, with no paper notification. Further, there was again no notification to Branches or Retired […]

Changes to Shift Allowances – don’t think this will not affect you

Proposals from the employers side to remove or reduce shift allowance from Police staff is a dangerous move which will have an impact on more than just shift workers. Staff who work shifts are paid a shift allowance in recognition of the anti-social hours that they work. This pay makes up a large proportion of […]

117 Aftercare for the elderly and retired members

Conference is concerned at the effects of Section 117 of the Mental Health Act especially as far as it affects elderly and retired people. Section 117 of the Mental Health Act places a statutory duty of aftercare on Health (Health Authority delegated to Primary Care Trusts) and Local Social Services Authorities (LSSA) to provide aftercare […]

Equal marriage – equal divorce

Conference welcomes the vital role of Cafcass staff in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children during family court proceedings. This includes promoting the welfare of children when their parents are separating or divorcing and can’t agree on arrangements for their children, ensuring the children’s voice is heard. Conference notes that lesbian, gay, bisexual and […]

Bring back diversity

Conference notes that the Police Service, the National Probation Service and the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies are facing ever deepening cuts. Equality and diversity officers, equality initiatives and diversity training can be seen as easy targets, a luxury for the good times, contrasted to so-called front line services. Conference asserts that equality is never a […]

A Shift in Equality

Conference has seen the damaging effect the cuts in the policing budget has had in the workplace over the last few years and with the Conservatives winning a majority at the General Election in May it offers a bleak outlook for all working in policing. We have seen controls rooms reduced and centralised, Custody Suits […]

Police knowledge and experience

Conference notes that police staff occupy a wide range of roles throughout the police service, from Crime Scene Investigators to Intelligence Analysts, from Licensing Officers to Data Protection Officers. Police staff in these and other roles have a wealth of knowledge and experience that they have brought to the role and developed whilst in the […]

Police and Crime Commissioner Elections 2016

Conference understands that along with the return of a Conservative Government comes the continuation of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) and their elections in May 2016. In 2012 when the first elections took place the turn out of the electorate was poor to say the least, we believe with many communities not understanding what the […]

Attack on Facility Time

Conference, the Cabinet Office Guidance of Trade Union Facility Time & Facilities in the Civil Service, published in October 2012, by the union bashing Tory government has had a devastating impact on our public sector colleagues in the Civil Service and, as a consequence, our even closer colleagues in the Probation Service who are now […]

Older People and the NHS

Conference is concerned to note that, as a result of a United Nations Directive, services provided for older people within the National Health Service may have to be curtailed as more resources are given to people who are under 34 years of age. This will happen unless more resources are put into the NHS to […]

Never too old to Agitate, Educate and Organise

Conference notes that over 65s are a growing proportion of society. This will have an impact on trades unions in a number of ways since: 1. The workforce will include a growing number of workers for whom retirement gets later and later and who make new organising demands; 2. Retired members will form a growing […]

Dignified Endings

Conference notes that the Pensioners Charter of the National Pensioners Convention refers to dignity, respect and fair treatment of older people in all aspects of their lives. Conference further notes that the Dignity Code also produced by the National Pensioners Convention calls for individuals to make up their own minds and for personal wishes such […]

FUEL POVERTY THE COLD TRUTH

In February this year research by the National Energy Action group warned that at least 100,000 householders could die needlessly across the UK between now and 2030 due to an inability to heat their homes properly. 75% of those affected will be pensioners which will include UNISON Retired Members. The report from manifesto for Warmth […]

National Bargaining

Conference notes the Passenger Transport Forum (PTF) replaced the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) with effect from 1st August 2005. The purpose of the consultative element of the PTF is to provide a joint Employer/Trade Union Forum committed to partnership working in order to consider the Human Resources implication of public transport issues, while the negotiating […]

Stop the destruction of SYPTE

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), has, in the last few years lost dozens of members of staff, encouraged to leave via SYPTE’s Voluntary Redundancy scheme, redundancies or merely by the none replacement leavers – many of these job losses have been amongst UNISON members. This policy of slashing services to the public will this […]