Charter for Change for LGBT Equality

Conference welcomes advances in legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. These include Gender Recognition and Civil Partnership, outlawing of sexual orientation discrimination in goods, facilities and services and the promised Single Equality Act, which should enact duties across all grounds to actively promote equality as well as combat discrimination. However, disadvantage and […]

Support for Members Undergoing Gender Reassignment

Conference welcomes the initial work undertaken by the Department of Health’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG) and the Scottish INCLUSION Project on the issue of gender identity in the NHS. Conference welcomes the increased profile of issues of concern facing transgendered communities but notes that trans people still face considerable hurdles in […]

Amendment to Standing Order 3 – Motions and Amendments

In Standing Order 3.1, after “Disabled Members or Black Members Caucuses;”, insert “Bisexual Members Caucus or Transgender Members Caucus;”

Supporting Human Rights for All

Conference recalls that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and affirms that: 1.Promoting and defending human rights is a core part of trade union international solidarity, working alongside relevant human rights organisations; 2. We must ensure the UK government protects human rights […]

Rule D1.10 – Conference Quorum and Procedure

In rule D 1.10.4 delete ‘and/or amendments to Rule’ and insert “and one amendment to Rule” Revised text to read: “A Regional Council, a Self-organised Group, the National Young Members’ Forum and the Retired Members Organisation may each submit a total of two motions and one amendment to Rule.”

Joined Up Equality – Promoting the Use of Single Equality Schemes and Equality Impact Assessments with NHS Employers

This Conference notes the requirements for Equality Schemes and Equality Impact Assessments that are required under the provisions for the ‘positive duties’ relating to race, gender and disability. Conference further notes: 1.Recent equality legislation including the Employment Equality Regulations covering sexual orientation and religion or belief; the Civil Partnership Act; the provisions of the Equality […]

General Social Care Council Register

Conference notes the recently introduced General Social Care Council Register, which includes the town in which a person works and is available via the world wide web to any member of the public. Conference is concerned that this may particularly problematic for Social Care staff who may have worked in service areas where threats of […]

Improving Policy and Practice for LGBT People – Guidance for Local Authorities

Conference congratulates the Scottish Executive on producing the document “Improving Policy and Practice for LGBT People – Guidance for Local Authorities”, which is based on an extensive piece of research carried out by them in 2005. The document contains positive advice to assist councils to assess their progress in developing their policies and practice in […]

Beyond Mere Legal Equality – The Campaign for a Charter for Change

Conference notes recent changes to legislation to provide for LGBT equality – notably the recently introduced provisions in goods, facilities and services and the promised Single Equality Act but recognises a number of areas where LGBT people are profoundly disadvantaged by a society where heterosexual norms still prevail and we still deal with a legacy […]

Celtic Connections and the LGBT Youth Charter of Rights

Conference notes that another successful ‘Celtic Connections’ training event took place in Glasgow this year, between Scottish and North Irish LGBT members. This training focussed on the theme of multiple identity and multiple discrimination and continued on from the Scottish UNISON LGBT AGM, which had debated issues surrounding older LGBT people. Transgender awareness training was […]

Screening of Blood Donors

Conference congratulates both the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) on their continuing hard work keeping the United Kingdom with a 24 hour blood supply with the resources that they have at present. Conference calls on the National LGBT Committee to include SNBTS in the review of evidence, […]

Diversity in Survival: Burma

Conference congratulates UNISON for its role in awareness raising about Burma (Myanmar) in particular for its ongoing campaign within the Labour and trade union movement to pressurise international governments to impose investment sanctions on Burma. Burma has been controlled by a military dictatorship for the past 40 years, condemned by the UN and numerous International […]

Goods, Facilities and Services Equality and Our Transgender Members

Conference welcomes the steps forward in LGBT equality with the Government’s upcoming anti-discrimination legislation on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services. Conference also welcomes the responses from national & regional groups, as well as individuals, to the consultation document. It is with regret though that the consultation document was […]

Women’s Participation

Conference welcomes the ongoing work and consultation regarding women’s participation in the LGBT self organised group following motions carried at the 2005 LGBT Conference. Conference recognises that the time scale of a year was not sufficient to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive consultation took place which included the views of LGBT women who are not […]

Conference Action Report

Conference recalls: 1.The resolution of the fourth National Lesbian & Gay Conference (1996) to instruct the National Lesbian & Gay Committee to produce and circulate to regional groups a detailed action plan within ten weeks of the close of conference; and 2.The resolution of the eleventh National Lesbian & Gay Conference (2003) to instruct the […]