Violence within Mental Health Settings

This conference deplores the use of violence, verbal threats and abuse against healthcare workers, recognising the detrimental effect these have on the abilty of staff to continue working in such environments, as well as the negative effect violence and aggression can have on service users. We acknowledge, however that some patients are unwell at the […]

Nurse Staffing Levels

Conference recognises that Health Service Trusts are experiencing difficulty in recruiting and retaining Registered Nurses and Auxiliary Staff and increasingly depend on Bank and Agency Nursing staff to provide cover. Furthermore Conference recognises that there is not an agreed National standard for nurse staffing levels with the exception of areas which require specialist practice. Conference […]

Agenda for Change

This Conference expresses its grave concern regarding the lack of information emanating from the Early Implementer Pilot Sites and UNISON’s consequent inability to monitor our areas of major concern, including:- ·Unsocial hours payments · ·Progression through “gateways” · ·Protection arrangements · ·Disadvantaged groups, e.g. those whose working hours will be increased · Conference therefore seeks […]

Training

This conference calls upon the SGE to use all avenues open to it to ensure that NHS trusts harmonise funding for training in the workplace between all professions and occupations in the NHS. This is essential if the NHS is to ensure suitably qualified staff will be available in the future in all occupational groups. […]

Health Professions Council

Conference notes with increasing concern the problems associated with the HPC processing applications for placement or renewal on its register. The high incidence of delays, apparent non-receipt or misplacement of applications and then inability to cope with resulting inquiries from occupational therapists as their registration/renewal date approached last November is of particular concern. Conference notes […]

Electronic Speed Traps – Effect on Emergency Vehicles

Conference notes with concern the effect on the ambulance service and other emergency services of the increasing use by local authorities of electronic speed traps. Such is the effect of these machines that ambulance services now employ scarce resources simply to deal with the administration of the paperwork generated when ambulances that are answering emergency […]

Ambulance Technicians

Most health professions have training and education programmes that lead to a single qualification and professional title. However, in the ambulance service the basic training for an emergency care practitioner qualifies you for the post of Ambulance Technician. To become a registered practitioner in emergency care and to use the title of Paramedic, authorized Technicians […]

Foundation Hosptials and Women

This conference deplores the creation of Foundation Hospitals, and is particularly saddened this initiative has been introduced by a Labour Government. Almost 80% of NHS staff are women, mainly employed in low paid jobs. Foundation hospitals will be able to offer their own pay and conditions to their staff, creating a two-tier workforce in the […]

Agenda for Change – NHS Staff Council – a flawed system

Conference notes with concern that hundreds of thousands of members of UNISON would be hugely under represented on the proposed Agenda for Change NHS Staff Council. We note that: 1.The new Agenda for Change NHS Staff Council is currently in shadow form; 2.On this body UNISON members have just 7 out of a total 34 […]

Restoration of Earnings Link

Conference notes the intention of the Conservative Party, announced at its Conference in October 2003, to re-introduce the earnings link to state pension increases which they themselves had broken when in government. Conference calls upon the National Executive Council to press the Government, through the UNISON Labour Link, to implement the decision of the Labour […]

Pensions

In view of the recent Tory promise to restore the link, this Conference requests the National Retired Members’ Committee to urge the National Executive Council to press this Government, via the Labour Link, to do the same.

Taxing of Lump Sum

Conference is opposed to any proposal to tax the lump sum that is paid to widows/widowers in the event of a pensioner dying within five years of retirement. Such lump sums are currently tax-free. Conference requests the National Retired Members’ Committee to ask the National Executive Council to organise a campaign to oppse this proposal […]

Retired Members’ Conference – Administration

Conference is again concerned at the lack of administrative time given to National Retired Members’ Conference in view of the lateness, once again, of receipt of the timetable and attached papers, which did not arrive at most branches until (at the earliest) Wednesday 11 June 2003. Motions were to be submitted by noon on Thursday […]

Compulsory Extension of Working Life

Conference notes the Government statement of July 2003 and proposals to end age discrimination in the workplace and so on. Conference, however, recognises that the statement is also a blatant attempt by the Government to try to resolve the pensions crisis by forcing people to work longer. Conference declares its opposition to any attempt to […]

Membership Records

Good communication is vital to ensure the future of the Retired Members’ Organisation and this is dependent upon accurate records of retired members and retired member contacts being maintained. Rule G.4.2.2 states that the Branch Secretary shall co-operate with the union’s Head Office in keeping a record of all members’ names, addresses and work groups […]