“Conference 2001 Genetic Testing and Employment This Conference deplores the use of genetic testing in the workplace to determine presence or predisposition of impairment. The use of genetic testing is a medically based measure that seeks to establish value systems that disadvantage disabled people. It may be used by employers to discriminate in areas of […]
Conference motions
This Conference notes the implementation in October 2004 of the next part of the Disability Discrimination Act. This means that all public buildings should be fully accessible to disabled people and has major implications for UNISON disabled members as employees and for service users. This Conference further notes the failure of Part 3 of the […]
Conference is appalled at the changes taking place in pension provision, involving movement from final salary schemes towards money purchase schemes across the public, private and voluntary sector. Conference notes that disabled people are usually in lower paid jobs and have shorter working lives than other workers due to a culture of enforced early retirement. […]
This Conference notes with concern the Government’s proposal to merge the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality into one Equalities Commission. We believe this would be detrimental to the interests of disabled people. The DRC was formed in 2000 and it has already made significant progress against […]
Conference requests that UNISON, through its structures, uses its powers to stop the discrimination against the disabled members of this union when they go for interviews. They are at present being made to do extra qualifying points because they declare that they are disabled. We wish for this discrimination to stop and UNISON to use […]
This Disabled Members’ Conference is concerned that UNISON’s literature and application forms are not readily available in alternative formats. As a trade organisation UNISON is expected under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to provide a service to members with disabilities that is equal to that for members without disabilities. The DDA came into effect in […]
This Conference has very grave reservations on the Labour Government’s proposed project to consider ways of setting up a single Equality Commission. Conference is concerned that UNISON disabled members and disabled people in general would suffer and lose out if serviced by such a single Equality Commission. This Conference calls upon the National Disabled Members’ […]
This Conference expresses its deep concern that the Social Model of Disability has been publicly criticised by Disability Rights Commissioner, Colin Low, who claimed that it contains important “truths” but also a significant amount of falsehood that “distorts reality in ways which are potentially damaging to disabled people”. Conference notes that over the past three […]
UNISON’s policy has long established the union’s support for the Social Model of Disability. The National Disabled Members Committee (NDMC) has been instrumental in advising the Union about how to promote the rehabilitation of the environment and eliminate other barriers that deny disabled people civil rights rather than promote the rehabilitation of the disabled person […]
The growing anger and frustration of UNISON members at New Labour’s continued attacks on public services, through privatisation, cuts and low wages, was reflected at last year’s National Delegate Conference. Conference notes that the decision of National Delegate Conference 2001 to review the Union’s political funds was rightly seen by our members and the media […]
This Conference expresses its deepest concern at the escalation and continuing acts of violence in the Middle East, whoever the authors may be. We believe that bloodshed will only cease when a degree of political perspective and dialogue is restored. Only then will a satisfactory solution be found to the Arab/Israeli conflict. Conference notes with […]
Conference opposes the British and US Governments unleashing an unending worldwide war against terrorism. We call upon Britain and the USA, and its allies, to cease all military actions and to withdraw from Afghanistan. Furthermore, we will vigorously oppose any continuation of this war to Iraq, Somalia, or elsewhere. We condemn the terrorist attacks on […]
This Conference notes the increasing globalisation of trade in goods and services, and the powerful role played by transnational companies in this process. Conference also notes the huge increase in social inequality both within and between countries that engage in the global economy. Conference recognises that although international trade has the potential to lift millions […]
Conference notes that the new Executive/Scrutiny split in the political structures of most local councils: 1)Reduces the role of back-bench councillors and leads to less accountability; 2)Reduces the ability of community campaigns to raise issues of concern to local people; 3)Can undermine the established industrial relations machinery and the effectiveness of the local union branch. […]
This Conference notes that the creation of democratically elected Assemblies for the English Regions will have a major influence on the lives of trade union members. In those regions of the United Kingdom which now have devolved assemblies or parliaments, UNISON members can be rightly proud of the part it played in campaigning for these […]