OFWAT Price Review

Conference notes the representations made by UNISON to both OFWAT and Government concerning the price review currently underway. It particularly welcomes the responses made to the various official consultative papers. Conference recognises that the new prices to be introduced in April 2005 will have a significant impact upon the employees of the water companies in […]

Investment in Public Transport

This Conference welcomes recent initiatives by the Government to invest in public transport within West Yorkshire, such as YellowBus, Yorcard and real time information, but notes with great concern that this is insufficient to redress the Tory legacy of inadequate investment in public transport provision. This Conference also notes that despite the recent problems with […]

Review of the National Lay Membership Structure

This Conference notes the actions taken to date by the Executive regarding the review of the Energy, Transport and Water & Environment service group structures at national level. Conference notes the outcome of the consultation exercise with all three service groups and in the light of this agrees that further work is necessary subject to […]

Government 10 Year Transport Plan – The Role of the Workforce

Conference welcomes the Government’s decision to review progress on achieving the aims of its 10 Year Transport Plan which, so far, has failed to produce any major improvements in public transport provision, significantly reduce road congestion and reduce deaths and casualties on out roads and railways. Conference notes that policy makers often overlook the role […]

Public Service – Public Transport?

This Conference notes that the Tory legacy of privatising local bus services in 1986 and the deregulation of rail services in 1994 has failed the travelling public of Britain miserably. This Conference calls upon the Transport Service Group Executive, in liaison with the NEC, to lobby the Government to reverse this failing Tory legislation and […]

Restoration of the Value of the State Pension

Conference notes the introduction of the pensioner credits scheme and notes that more than one million pensioners have not made application for such credits. The low take-up rate of these means-tested benefits was thoroughly predictable Conference believes that restoration of the state pension scheme to its former monetary value is the proper way forward and […]

Pensions

Conference notes that: 1)the UK continues to face a crisis in its pensions provisions for the future; 2)despite government initiatives such as raising payments to the poorest pensioners, free eye tests and the winter fuel allowance, too many pensioners are still condemned to live and die in poverty; 3)there are widespread moves in private sector […]

Police Community Support Officer Funding

This Conference is aware that Government funding for the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) employed by many police forces across the country is shortly to come to an end. Some police forces have indicated that they may not be able to maintain the levels of PCSOs that they currently employ when this funding runs out. […]

Service Group Executive

At the Service Group Seminar at Croyde Bay in 2003, the Service Group Executive were asked to report in full on the progress made towards achieving the goals of Composite C of the Service Group Conference 2003. Conference is dismayed that no report was given. This Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to prioritise the […]

Fair pay for police staff

In 2003 this Conference approved Composite C, Fair pay for Police Staff. This motion instructed the Service Group Executive to: 1)enter into negotiations with the employers to establish a similar scheme for UNISON members in order to re-address the pay gap; 2)report back in full to the 2003 National Service Group Seminar. This Conference instructs […]

Service Group Conference

In 2002, at the Service Group Conference, Composite 1 was approved by Conference. This composite called for the Service Group Executive to merge the Annual Service Group Conference and Annual Seminar in a single 2/3 day event away from the National Delegate Conference. In its annual report of 2003 the Service Group Executive stated that: […]

Devolution and Trade Unions

Conference notes that UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning for devolution to the nations and regions of the UK. Devolution has resulted in the emergence of different political structures that provide further opportunities to influence policy makers for the benefit of our members as providers and users of services and as citizens. The […]

Policing the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003

Conference notes: 1)that the long-awaited legislation protecting workers from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation has now been in force for a number of months; 2)that many police service equalities policies already included sexual orientation, and others have now been amended. However, Conference notes that we need now to activate these policies and there is […]

Local Government Pension Scheme Pensions

This Conference calls upon the Government to reconsider changes in the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS) which may be detrimental to our members. Such changes include: 1)from April 2004, the right to a return of pensions contributions are to be removed and immediate ‘vesting’ of pension rights will be introduce; 2)from April 2005, increasing the […]

Transport Policy

Conference notes the success of the free bus travel system in Wales which has extended travel to all persons aged over 60 and disabled people. The Welsh system allows travel on any one, or a series of, buses for journeys beginning and ending in Wales. The benefits have been substantial and have led to an […]