Pride not Profit

Conference notes that UNISON no longer sponsors national Pride following policy decisions and concerns expressed by Lesbian and Gay members over the commercialism involved. Conference is aware that UNISON participated in Pride in the Park this year by holding a stall in the Trades Union Congress (TUC) marquee. Conference recognises the importance of such a […]

Facility Time for Lesbian and Gay Activists

Conference agrees that lesbian and gay work within the union should have equal status with branch stewards’ and health and safety work and the work of those involved in other self organised groups and should therefore be afforded facility time. Conference calls on the General Secretary to write to all branches reiterating the above and […]

Working to Support Lesbian and Gay Issues in Further and Higher Education

This Conference welcomes the initiative and objectives of the recent publication “ACTION”, a joint AUT (Association of University Teachers)/NATFHE (National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education)/ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers) policy statement on equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) staff and students in Colleges and Universities. The document is detailed […]

Working with other Lesbian and Gay Trade Unionists in the English Regions

Conference welcomes the development of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender networks in most of the Trades Union Congress’s (TUC’s) English regions and in Scotland and Wales. It urges UNISON Regional Lesbian and Gay Committees to contribute to these developments and to make them a standing item on the agenda of their meetings. It instructs the […]

UNISON National Lesbian and Gay Committee (NLGC) and the Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (TUC LGBT) Committee

This Conference recognises the valuable work of the Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (TUC LGBT) Committee in building and developing policy for the TUC on LGBT issues and UNISON’s involvement in this. Conference also recognises the work of the voluntary LGBT organisations, but believes the trade union movement is best placed to […]

Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (TUC LGBT) Conference

Congress recalls its view that the Trades Union Congress Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (TUC LGBT) Conference should not always be held in London. (Resolution 17 of the eighth National Lesbian and Gay Conference, 2000.) Moreover, it notes that, this year, the conference was held later than usual and on dates which, as far as […]

Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003

Conference celebrates the fact that next week sees the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations come into force. The regulations will make it unlawful to discriminate against lesbians and gay men in the workplace. Conference applauds the fact that the regulations cover all sectors and that there is no small employer exemption. Conference recognises the input […]

Homophobic Bullying in Schools and Isolation of Lesbian and Gay Students

Conference welcomes the end of Section 28, which was finally repealed receiving royal assent on September 18th, and notes the very long campaign for its repeal amongst the lesbian and gay (L&G) community and the broader labour movement. Conference in particular highlights the role played by trade unions in keeping up the pressure on the […]

Making Policy and Carrying it out

This Conference notes that: 1.following each National Lesbian and Gay Conference the National Lesbian and Gay Committee (NLGC) prepares an action plan on the decisions of Conference (Conference Action Report) which includes action points for branch and regional lesbian and gay (L&G) groups. However, this document is drawn up on the basis of the action […]

Work Related Driving Dangers

This Energy Service Group Conference welcomes the report of the independent work related road safety task group, which confirms TUC estimates of 1,000 deaths annually in work related deaths on the road. The issue of road risk is particularly relevant for employers like United Utilities that cover hundreds of miles North to South and East […]

Offshoring

This Energy Service Group Conference notes with concern that employers such as Vertex, part of United Utilities, Cap, Gemini, Ernst & Young and Thames Water are actively considering transferring work to India. Negotiators in such Branches are advised to seek assurances from their employers that this issue will not escalate and put more British workers […]

Promoting Lesbian and Gay Self Organisation within the Energy Service Group

Conference notes that one of UNISON’s stated objectives is to improve the flow of information to members. Conference also notes that it is often those who are most vulnerable to discrimination from both employers and work colleagues who are the most difficult for us to reach by the ‘usual channels’. Conference believes that there are […]

Call Centres

Conference notes with concern the recent report published by Mitial research which claims that one third of Britain’s call centres will close by 2005, due to a predicted exodus of contracts to emerging markets such as India and South Africa. Conference also recognises that Energywatch and Ofgem intend to focus on customer response times this […]

Call Centres

There are an increasing number of utility companies either looking at or now using overseas call centres to resource work that has previously been carried out within the UK. Many of these call centres are being set up in the Far East where the annual salary is £2000 compared to the £12000 paid in the […]

The Employment Act 2002

The Employment Bill 2003 introduced a whole host of welcome changes to Working Terms and Conditions. In particular it introduces the right for employees to request a change to working hours based upon child-care needs. This is a positive step in securing flexible working arrangements for our members. However, in order to ensure that UNISON […]