This Conference believes it is essential that UNISON does more to organise and recruit young members, and that LGBT members have an important part to play in that work. Conference notes the collaboration between the Scottish LGBT Committee and the Scottish Young Members Committee in their pursuit of the LGBT Youth Scotland Charter Mark. Through […]
Conference motions
Following on from the resolutions of our last two conferences urging National Committee to be more proactive concerning retired LGBT members it is still unclear to many exactly how members can remain involved when they retire. Self Organisation is written into UNISON’s rulebook as a real commitment to overcoming barriers and prejudices faced disproportionately by […]
Conference welcomes the recent inclusion of homophobic hate crime within England and Wales leading to an aggravated offence and inclusion in hate crime statistics. Conference notes the high prevalence of hate crimes towards LGT communities as well as significant under reporting of such offences, and calls for uniform protection from hate crimes for LGBT people […]
In 2006 the Scottish Executive removed homophobia (and disability) from hate crime legislation at the last minute, despite the recommendation of the Hate Crime Working Group that they be included. The Equality Network responded by saying “We’re extremely disappointed that two years after the Hate Crime Working Group recommended this change the Executive rejected it. […]
Point i) After “National Women’s Committee”, insert “and two co-opted members from the Women’s Caucus at Disabled Members Conference”
This Conference believes disabled people encounter particular disadvantage in the workforce and therefore propose that the post of Disabled Members Officer should be included in the Rule Book, to work specifically on behalf of disabled members, this post should be occupied by a disabled person. We therefore call for Rule G.4.1.1 to be amended as […]
This conference congratulates those UNISON branches that have negotiated the UNISON model Disability Leave Agreement with their employers and we commend their efforts to protect our disabled members rights at work. However, we note that many branches are still experiencing difficult negotiations and spending energy and resources persuading employers that their sickness absence policies and […]
Conference welcomes the publication of The DRC’s Mental Health Advisory Group’s Report ‘Coming Together – mental health, equality and human rights’ This Report notes that discrimination and unequality systematically destroy people’s mental health. People with long term mental health conditions face some of the most severe exclusion in Britain, including an 80 per cent unemployment […]
This Conference notes that many disabled people receive funding from Access to Work (ATW) to employ a support worker or reader. This means that the person in receipt of ATW has the same legal responsibilities as all employers, such as having in place grievance and disciplinary policies/procedures, providing an employment contract, sorting out tax and […]
Conference welcomes the decision to develop a UNISON Equality Scheme covering every function of UNISON – recruitment and organising, negotiating and representing members, campaigning and promoting UNISON, and UNISON’s internal functions as an employer and service provider. UNISON is rightly proud of its leading profile in the field of equalities and its provision of a […]
This Conference is aware of the complexities surrounding disclosure of disabilities and recognises the similarities that lgbt people must face when disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity particularly if they are not ‘out’. Conference believes that disabled Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people face homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and affirms the need for […]
This conference has previously welcomed the Disability Equality Duty placed on employers in December 2006. In particular, the general duty includes some powerful statements on the need for public sector employers and employers with public functions to: ·promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons ·promote positive attitudes towards disabled people ·encourage participation […]
Disability Leave is an important agenda for the majority of our disabled members, as without this, through no fault of their own, they are subject to the timebound sickness procedures operated within organisations. We thank the National Disabled SOG Committee for the work that has been undertaken in compiling and distributing the Disability Policy Guidelines […]
Conference welcomes the UK Government’s Consultation Paper bringing forward proposals to introduce a Single Equality Act but believes that the current proposals are a lost opportunity for disabled people. Any Single Equalities Bill must ensure that disabled people have the protection of the strongest possible anti-discrimination legislation. Conference calls on the National Disabled Members Committee […]
Conference agrees that the concept of free bus travel for disabled people and those aged 60 and above has been a welcome advance for many citizens within the United Kingdom. However, we are concerned that some local authorities issue travel vouchers instead of an open permit for free travel. Vouchers, by their nature, ration the […]