Energy Service Group Constitution

Conference approves the attached Constitution of the Energy Service Group.

UNISON Organisation in the Energy Industry

Conference believes that it is essential that the United Kingdom has a sustainable energy policy that ensures security of supply, affordability and environmental protection. Conference notes the failure of the last and present Governments to promote positively clean coal technology and is concerned that the cuts in public expenditure will seriously increase the number of […]

SMART Meters and the Implications for Employment

Conference notes that over the next few years the Energy Retailers will be pushing ahead with a national roll out of SMART meter installations. This will be a massive logistical exercise involving many thousands of workers and the probable extensive use of contract labour. Conference endorses UNISON’s position on SMART meters that seeks to emphasise […]

The New Ownership Model for Energy Networks: Implications for UNISON

Conference notes that within the energy sector there is an increasing trend of ownership of gas and electricity distribution networks by pension funds and private equity consortia. The sale of network businesses by National Grid, EDF and United Utilities to such owners will likely be added to by other companies seeking to raise funds for […]

Elections to European Works Councils

Conference notes that four of the big six Energy Companies in the UK are owned by overseas European based multi- nationals. Each of these four companies either already have, or are eligible for, a European Works Council (EWC). Recognising that UNISON has a significant membership base in all the UK’s energy companies it is important […]

Undertaking Three Monthly Joint Health and Safety Inspections in the Companies Covered by the Energy Service Group

The 2011 Energy Conference notes that Trade Union Accredited H&S or SHE Representatives have a legal right to inspect the workplace 4 times per year. Agreeing dates can be a problem, therefore it is recommended that joint H&S inspections are agreed with management as near as practicable to 13, 26 and 39 weeks after European […]

Sickness Absence Policies and Disability Related Sickness Absence

Over 5 years ago in 2005, the Government’s Strategy Unit published a far-reaching paper called ‘Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People’. This report, largely welcomed by trade unions, laid out an ambitious objective of ending discrimination against disabled people in Britain by the year 2025, twenty years later? A quarter of the way into […]

Changes to Access to Work Support

This conference is concerned about severe restrictions which have been placed on the support offered to disabled employees by Access to Work in recent changes starting October 1st. The great majority of funding for “physical adjustments” such as equipment, telephony, adaptations to buildings and similar will no longer be provided. The cost will now be […]

Disabled Members and the anti-cuts campaign

Conference notes that the Comprehensive Spending Review announced on October 20th will have a devastating effect on disabled people. With local government losing more than a quarter of its funding over the next four years, disabled people and their families are likely to see their services and support drastically affected. Conference believes that now more […]

AXING OUR RIGHTS

This Conference is deeply concerned at the coalition government’s announcement on Friday 13th August of its decision to axe the Audit Commission. The Commission has played an important role in promoting the employment rights and public service provision to disabled people by those public authorities that are covered by the Disability Equality Duty. Our greatest […]

STOP THE SURVEILLANCE OF DISABLED PEOPLE’S BENEFITS AND SPENDING POWER – DEMAND CRIMINALISATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE TAX FRAUDSTERS

This conference is gravely concerned about reports on 10 August 2010 that government intends to use credit rating firms to target disabled people claiming benefits by using intelligence about what disabled people choose to spend their benefit on. We see this latest attack as another bounty hunter initiative that could cost billions of pounds to […]

RESTRICTIONS IN CAR USER ALLOWANCES AND ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES

This Conference is concerned that many employers are cutting the mileage they will pay for disabled people who use their own vehicle for work purposes. We recognise that campaigns for the reduction in car usage and limiting the engine size that can be used for work purposes to 1000cc promotes the climate change agenda. However […]

DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE RECESSION

This conference is appalled about the savage cuts in public services and the impact on our members’ jobs. Disabled members express their extreme frustration at the media’s failure to portray the tax and spending debate as the lifeline to disabled people’s independence but instead focus a negative representation of disabled people as a burden on […]

ACCESS TO WORK AND THE RIGHT TO CONTROL

This Conference is alarmed at the reports of disabled members being denied the right to control their Access to Work packages in the workplace. We are only too aware of the ignorance from some disabled people about how our conditions and impairments affect us, we are also concerned that non disabled people do not fully […]

BENEFITS AND DISABLED WOMEN

In line with Dave Prentis’ press release declaring war on public service cuts, we are shocked this administration is introducing draconian cuts to government departmental budgets that will negatively and disproportionately affect disabled women. Of particular concern is the announcement that existing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants will have to undergo medical checks to continue […]