Suspension is not a Neutral Act

Conferences notes with concern that UNISON members who are under investigation by their force or the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) appear to be facing longer periods of suspension for misconduct reasons, where they are removed from their workplace, isolated from their colleagues and generally left to look after their own welfare and mental […]

POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT

This conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee (NRMC) and calls upon the National Executive Council (NEC) to raise awareness, by any means at their disposal, to the pending threat of the removal of the Post Office Card Account (POCA). This account is used by thousands of pensioners and less able people as a safe […]

Older People and Loneliness

This conference calls on the National Retired Members’ Committee (NRMC) and requests the National Executive Council (NEC) to liaise with other agencies to raise awareness of loneliness and its affects in particular, on older people. Loneliness often comes about as a result of the lack of transport in rural areas together with the lack of […]

Intergenerational Commission

This conference rejects the proposals contained in the Resolution Foundation think tank’s report of the intergenerational Commission, chaired by Lord David Willetts (nicknamed Two Brains), titled “A New Generational Contract”. Conference further rejects the myth of generational unfairness on which the report is founded, and which masks the fact that the real unfairness is based […]

WINDRUSH

Conference is appalled at the Windrush scandal and the treatment of too many of the British citizens affected. In particular Conference is concerned for the many retired people and pensioners caught up in this controversy whose status and rights as British citizens have been erroneously called into question. Conference recalls that Caribbean people were invited […]

Trans Prisoners

That this Conference will be aware of the tragic deaths in custody last year of trans women being held in male prisons. “Vikki Thompson who was aged 21 at the time of her death was being held at Armley jail, a category B men’s prison, and had told friends she would kill herself, if she […]

Taking forward UNISON’s work on intersex equality

Conference notes that momentum for the recognition of human rights and equality for people born with intersex bodies (variations of sex characteristics) has increased greatly over the last 2 years. Whilst this has mainly been positive, there continues to be confusion and misunderstanding of what intersex means and a lack of focus on everyday issues, […]

LGBT Scrutiny in the Commissioning Process

Up and down the country health and social care service provision is once again metamorphosing. As features in the provider landscape rise and fall, there are winners and losers. The winners, whether from the statutory, private or community sectors, spread into new geographic territories, full of enthusiasm but frequently ignorant of the shape of local […]

Commitment to Pride

UNISON works tirelessly to combat homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and to build equality for us all. Conference believes that one of the best ways of communicating with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is face to face, most notably through our presence at Pride events across the United Kingdom. Conference notes that UNISON […]

Palestine

1. The adoption by UNISON national delegate conference 2016 of the motion “Don’t silence the occupation of Palestine”, which highlighted the introduction of new laws in Britain, the United States of America and Israel that seek to undermine the growing success of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and instructed the National Executive Council […]

An inclusive movement, an inclusive union

UNISON strives to represent all its members and has led the way in lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members’ self-organisation, not only including LGBT members but putting us at the heart of leading our union. Conference reiterates its belief that a growing number of people identify with sexual orientations or gender identities outside of […]

#AskMyPronouns

Equality law in the United Kingdom (UK) has continued to update itself as time has passed in view of better knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing people, including those of transgender individuals. Although these laws ensure protection for transgender people the particulars of language are always changing. People working in the public service and […]

End of Life Care for LGBT People

Research by the Marie Curie Charity “Hiding who I am – the reality of end of life care for LGBT People” shows that many older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have significant fears about palliative and end of life care services. They are concerned that service providers and health and social care professionals […]

Expunge LGBT convictions prior to decriminalization

Conference notes that until 1980, sex between men was illegal in Scotland and whilst sexual acts between women have never been specifically outlawed in the United Kingdom (UK), some prosecutions for indecency were made in the past. Conference further notes that the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 decriminalised homosexual acts between men over 21 in […]

TIME FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Conference notes that the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) Campaign is committed to improving access to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex plus (LGBTI+) inclusive education in all Scottish schools. Inclusive education can help tackle homo/bi/transphobia, create a more safe learning environment for all pupils, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and can also […]