The New Equality Legislation

Conference welcomes the new Equality legislation following the successful passing of the Equality Bill prior to the General Election earlier this year. It is expected that the Equality Act will be phased in from the autumn of 2010. This new Act now includes protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and especially Transgender people in a single […]

FIGHTING THE FAR RIGHT

Conference is very aware that although the far right political parties did not win a seat at the recent General Election, their activity has by no means decreased. These parties and those associated with them continue to practice their homophobic, biphobic and transphobic ideals not forgetting their racism, disablism, xenophobia and other hatred including of […]

Equality Reps

Conference notes that equality is the centre of everything UNISON does. Conference welcomes the new role of Equality Rep within UNISON and the workplace. Conference notes that many of our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) members face discrimination and inequality in the workplace on a daily basis. Conference notes the importance of having Equality […]

DON’T CON-DEM YOUNG LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) PEOPLE

Conference believes that young people are amongst those most likely to suffer as a consequence of the damaging policies being pursued by the Con-Dem Government. Conference also believes that: 1.The job losses predicted by the Treasury of up to 600,000 jobs in the public sector and up to 700,000 in the private sector will have […]

Raising the profile of Police Staff

Conference calls upon the Service Group Executive (SGE) to be proactive in raising the profile of police staff by ensuring that the government, the media and the public are made aware of the wide variety of roles we perform. These roles are commonly referred to as ‘back office’ functions, which is misleading and serves only […]

Shared Services, Collaboration and Mergers

Conference recognises that shared services and collaboration are now major issues for our members in police forces in England and Wales. Along with the Treasury’s Total Place initiative, collaboration threatens our members’ jobs, and the services they provide to local communities. Conference also notes that police force mergers are back on the agenda in some […]

Cuts to Jobs, Pay and Services

Conference is appalled by both the speed and the scale of cuts that have already taken place and the extent of cutbacks that are being built into future expenditure plans by police authorities across England and Wales. This includes unnecessary and damaging plans by all political parties to freeze or cut Council Tax, with disastrous […]

Defending and Reforming the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Conference is alarmed by the ongoing attacks on the LGPS from politicians, local councils, the Taxpayers’ Alliance, the CBI, the Institute of Directors and others. Conference also notes with concern the government’s ‘cap and share’ proposals for cost-sharing within the LGPS. Conference welcomes the response by UNISON and the LGPS Trade Union Side and the […]

Police Staff Protection

Since Modernisation the extended deployment of Police Staff has been recognised as a vital component in helping to tackle crime and provide visible patrols contributing to neighbourhood safety. At a time when all Forces are facing financial constraints Conference is concerned that Police Authorities will sacrifice Police Staff in order to maintain Police Officer numbers. […]

Volunteers in the Police Service

Tayside Police, like many other Forces throughout the UK are currently conducting reviews of efficiency savings. Our own ‘Transforming Tayside’ is effectively a Best Value Review of the business. This BVR highlighted in January 2010 the issue of other Forces utilising volunteers in expanding engagement with the community such as Nottinghamshire and North Yorkshire. Whilst […]

Mainstreaming LGBT Equality

During this period of public sector cuts, as we feel the impact on police and justice, this conference notes the risk of dwindling support for equality issues, including lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) issues, in the police and justice services. Police and justice diversity departments face downsizing and our members face cuts or increasing […]

Communicating with LGBT members

Police and ustice Conference affirms the importance of excellent communication in our union organising, noting that those who are most isolated often need our communications the most. Conference notes that UNISON does not monitor or record which of its members are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) members. This means that the only way to […]

Value for Money

Conference condemns the recent criticisms of police staff not providing “value for money” by the Police Federation. Conference calls for all Police Authorities to look at further civilianisation of posts which do not require warranted Officers to carry out the role. Civilianisation of these posts will realise savings for individual Police Authorities while releasing those […]

First Aider Allowance

Conference notes the present wording in clause 15, Section 1(Pay), of the national Police Staff Council (PSC) terms and conditions with regard to the First Aider Allowance. Conference is concerned that not all Police forces are properly implementing the wording of clause 15 in the way it was intended. Clause 15 of the PSC handbook […]

Payments for working additional hours, and removal of the bar on overtime payments to employees paid on national salary spine 24 and above

Conference notes the existing national Police Staff Council clause 6.1 Section 1 (Pay), in respect of entitlement to receive overtime payments: 6.1: ‘An employee paid at or below point 24 of the national salary spine who works in excess of an average of 37 hours per week shall be paid at the following rates for […]