UNISON is appalled by the continued attacks from the ConDem government on Health and Safety protection for workers. These attacks are despite a lack of any evidence from two government funded reviews to suggest any problems in the arrangements and legal protections afforded by the Health and Safety legislation, and European Directives. It is therefore […]
Conference motions
Conference notes the advances in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality over recent years that have given LGBT people more options and choice of becoming a parent, whether it be as a single LGBT person or as a same sex couple. However there are still many LGBT people who are already parents or who […]
Conference believes our members deserve major congratulations for their magnificent efforts on 30 November. Conference further congratulates the union on its focus and organisation throughout the process of pension’s negotiations and the historic industrial action ballot of over one million members, successfully conducted without legal challenge. Conference notes that our union’s conduct throughout, including on […]
Conference acknowledges the unprecedented levels of recruitment to the union over the last year. This growth is primarily because UNISON was prepared to get involved in organising industrial action to defend pensions in coordinated action with other public sector unions. Conference recognises that where we give strong and positive leadership, it inspires workers to become […]
Time for Change Conference, the thorny subject of mental health as experience by Black people, needs examination. David Bennett died October 1988. Sir John Blofeld chair of the David Bennett, Independent Inquiry panel found that Institutional Racism exists within the Mental Health Services, in his report December 2005. One of the key recommendations: Do not […]
Conference notes with great concern how the cuts in policing will greatly disadvantage the excellent work previously undertaken to engage with disadvantaged communities. Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs) were set up following the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report highlighted that the police were disengaged with communities. IAGs have played an active role in ensuring that police engage […]
Conference on 2 September 2011 Eric Pickles, the Secretary for Communities and Local Government new guidance called ‘A fair deal for the community and voluntary sector.’ The guidance states councils should not carry out equality questionnaires and use the money saved to fund the community and voluntary sector. They claim that the questions asked about […]
Co-ordinated action against the various English, Scottish & Welsh Defence League: UNISON needs co-ordinated action against the various English,Scottish &Welsh Defence League: 1)This Conference notes the increasing number of English Defence League (EDL) actions across the country. Sites chosen for those actions have been deliberately selected to: –Increase fear and intimidation to Black communities –Increase […]
Call for Equality and Democracy in Swaziland Conference calls to set focus on Swaziland – a country so brutally savaged by the impact of HIV/AIDS, poverty, poor governance, and minus democratic rights. Swaziland is the only absolute monarchy in Africa; it is a country where 10% of 1.18 million population controls almost half of the […]
Conference believes that the level of unemployment amongst young Black people in the UK is a disaster. The current economic crisis has had a severe effect on the livelihoods and futures of Black workers, especially young Black workers. Research has shown that since the recession started, an alarming 48% of young Black people are currently […]
The Government’s plan to drastically reform public sector pensions will condemn many Black people to a life of poverty in their old age. Black people’s poverty in retirement is directly linked to the discrimination and low levels of pay they experience throughout their working lives in the labour market. Conference notes the Runnymede Trust research […]
Speaking up against racism Conference welcomes another successful year where the BNP were driven back at the ballot box, thanks to the hard work of anti-racist and anti-fascist activists, many of whom are UNISON activists and members. Of the 258 candidates the BNP stood in the English local elections, only two were elected and they […]
Conference is concerned by research that has shown greater numbers of women of African, African-Caribbean and Pakistani origin are likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer that has spread than white women. A breast cancer incidence and survival study found that 17% of Pakistani women, 15% of African women, 11% of African Caribbean women and […]
Conference, in recent years we have seen a decline in the care of our Black Social Workers in the field of mental health and the valuable work they perform on a daily basis in our communities. They are undervalued, under supervised and unheard by managers of their hardship. It is a known fact that in […]
The Cultural and Language Barriers in the Workplace Conference, many of our members experience communication and Language barriers in the workplace. These members are some of our most vulnerable Black workers – migrant workers, low paid members, those working in the ‘hidden workforce’ but are integral and valuable for service delivery and provision. The reality […]