Improving Local Services

Conference endorses UNISON’s support for world class public services and commits itself to working with councils to achieve that aim. However, Conference believes that the Government’s approach centres on a ‘big stick’ approach to performance management, rather than serious investment in staff and services, which hinders, rather than helps councils and staff to improve. While […]

Local Government Service Group Executive Report

This Conference receives the report of the Local Government Service Group Executive.

Workforce Training and Development

Conference notes that the government’s emphasis on improvement in local government service delivery continues. While Conference supports the call for top quality public services, Conference also believes that an increase in investment in local government workforce development and training is central to the improvement of local government services. Conference welcomes the joint work with the […]

Lessons from the 2002/3 Local Government (England, Northern Ireland and Wales) Pay Dispute

This Conference welcomes the report on ‘Lessons from the 2002/3 Local Government (England, Northern Ireland and Wales) Pay Dispute’. Conference also notes that a similar exercise took place in Scotland post the 1999 dispute. Conference calls on the SGE to ensure that its recommendations are acted upon at all levels of the union, after discussion […]

Non-Standard and Unsocial Hours Working

This Conference is aware that many local government workers are in “24/7” services working irregular and demanding shifts where “flexibility” is all on the employers side and little or no compensation is made for the disruption in family life and the bad effects on health. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to investigate the amount […]

Timing of Local Government Conference

Conference notes the current link between the Local Government Service Group Conference and the National Delegate Conference both being held in June. Whilst it is recognised that there are cost savings achieved by the linkage, holding the Service Group Conference at this time is no longer appropriate. Since the introduction of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement […]

Recruitment and Retention of Young Workers in Local Government

Conference notes: 1)That the crisis in recruitment and retention of staff in the public sector has recently been identified by the Audit Commission report “Recruitment and Retention: A public services workforce for the 21st Century”. 2)That this crisis is particularly acute in local government where 75% of councils surveyed nationally by UNISON report difficulties in […]

Health and Work of Older Women

Twelve million women in the United Kingdom are aged 45 or over and the number is increasing. Many of these women spend longer in paid employment, making an important contribution to the economy and public services. Unfortunately, little interest has been taken in the impact this has had on this neglected group’s physical, emotional and […]

Breast Cancer Screening Challenge Campaign

Conference is concerned at the ever-increasing number of women suffering from breast cancer and the postcode lottery of treatment and survival rates that still operate throughout the United Kingdom and blights women’s lives. Conference is concerned that women living in rural areas/small towns are only invited for breast cancer screening when the mobile unit is […]

International Ties and Solidarity

Conference notes the ties with international forces enjoyed by forces and the support networks such as the Black Police Association. Conference considers that similar ties with like minded bodies to be of great value to the Service group for the purpose of international solidarity and the sharing of good practice. As a young service group […]

Bridging the Gap

Conference understands and supports the close ties between UNISON and the Labour party and would wish to strengthen those ties. Conference also recognises the important role that the other two main political parties have with regard to the police service. Conference believes that key speakers from the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrat Party be […]

Privatisation

Conference notes with concern the creeping privatisation of police services through PFI, Best Value, outsourcing and the increasing use of private agency staff. Conference notes in particular: 1)the fragmentation of police services that this privatisation is causing, particularly when outsourcing takes place at BCU level; 2)the lack of Best Value methodology being applied to some […]

Regional Organisation in Further Education & Sixth Form Colleges

This Conference congratulates its members working in further education colleges on the first national strike across the sector. It notes their success in achieving an improved offer for members despite continued intransigence from the employer’s side. However, the Conference recognises the need to build on the success of this action to improve levels of organisation […]

Exigencies of Service

That this Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to investigate and make recommendations as to the definition of the term ‘exigencies’ in the Police Support Staff Council Handbook and/or similarly seeks an alternative word or phrase which brings clarity and removes ambiguity from its intention. This work should also run in parallel with the review […]

Service Confidence procedures

Conference condemns the proposals of ACPO to introduce service confidence procedures into the police service. The proposals suggest that staff can have punitive measures taken against them without the right to a fair hearing or knowing the nature of the allegations. Conference believes this to be unacceptable. Conference believes that all staff have the right […]