Conference affirms the benefits of attending this lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) conference, including opportunities to discuss current issues, shape the direction of UNISON’s LGBT work, learn more about UNISON and be re-energised for the coming year of activism. Conference believes that many of our regional groups, LGBT branch self-organised groups (SOG) and the […]
Conference motions
Conference notes that the resolution “LGBT and sex worker organising and the fight against HIV” adopted by 2015 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Conference recognised that: 1. Amnesty International’s decision making forum, the International Council Meeting (ICM), had voted to adopt a policy to protect the human rights of sex workers and to advocate […]
Conference condemns the racism, xenophobia and anti-immigrant tone evident in much campaigning in the lead up to the vote on European Union (EU) membership on 23 July. Conference further condemns the lies told about the link between EU membership and the future of the United Kingdom (UK) in relation to the economy, migration, human rights […]
Conference deplores the decision of the National Joint Council (NJC) Committee, on 27 April 2016, on a divided vote, to accept the pay offer from the employers for local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (the Local Government Association – LGA). This decision is deeply flawed for a number of reasons: 1. The […]
Conference notes that on 18th May 2016 the Government’s proposals to force maintained schools to become academies in England were announced alongside limits on local authorities’ role in school improvement and a revised national funding formula for schools. The stated aim in these proposals is for all schools to become academies with the Secretary of […]
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) may no longer be a death sentence for those who become infected, but did you know there is more individuals can actively do to prevent infection? HIV has long been synonymous with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, yet an important tool with the capacity to halt the spread […]
Conference believes that all forms of hate crime are abhorrent. Conference notes the rise of reported hate crime incidents in the United Kingdom (UK). In 2014/15, there were 5,597 ‘sexual orientation’ hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales, a rise of 22% on the previous year, and 605 ‘transgender identity’ hate crimes, […]
Conference welcomes the increase in the numbers of trans people participating in UNISON lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activities and events, both at a regional and national level, with more trans members than ever before attending both conference and the trans network meeting. Conference we celebrate the achievements made around transgender issues over the […]
Conference notes the development of the devolution agenda and further notes that: 1)Local government is a devolved matter in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; 2)The Scotland Bill devolves more powers to the Scottish Parliament from April 2017, the Wales Act 2014 devolves some tax and borrowing powers to the Wales Government National Assembly for Wales […]
Conference is aware that local authorities are in unprecedented financial times. Conference notes: 1)the major changes taking place in the role of local government; 2)the government has now announced that it will end contributions from the national taxpayer through the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) from 2020/21 and the reduction in revenue support grant of more […]
Conference notes the vital importance of expanding the spirit and ethos of trade unionism amongst students. To this end, as a highly politically sensitive area of the union, we need to foster closer relations with students unions through the UK. Students, as a group of ‘consumers’, need to realise that with increased tuition fees, they […]
With rising pension ages both in the State and Employers Pension Scheme, Higher Education will see an increase in the age of its workforce. The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against employees because of their age. Age discrimination can impact on someone’s confidence, job prospects, financial situation and quality of life. Older […]
This Conference believes that the growth of privatisation and outsourcing in Higher Education presents a major challenge not just to the provision of services, but also to our ability to organise the workforce effectively. This Conference believes that the service group’s response to this challenge must be to support branches seeking to resist privatisation and […]
Conference notes that it was our union’s national collective bargaining that established many equality protections long before they were enshrined in law. For example, our predecessor unions secured recognition of same sex partners for the purposes of workplace benefits before workplace discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation was banned and many years before the first […]
Conference notes that Health and Safety has not been exempt from the government’s austerity cuts agenda. The continued drive to “cut red tape” has brought changes to both the way work environments and hazardous substances are classified. Conference welcomes the initiative to standardise substance labelling worldwide and agree that when it comes to health and […]