Water and Sanitation as an Essential Public Service and the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

Conference welcomes UNISON’s publication of the report ‘Sewerage Works’ and confirms its belief that sewerage has the potential to make a significant contribution to the sanitation needs of the many thousands of people living in urban squalor throughout the developing world. Water and Sanitation services are essential for life and it is universally accepted that […]

Imposition of Pay Awards

This Water and Environment conference congratulates Scottish Water branch on industrial action taken in opposition to an imposed pay figure by their employers which led to an acceptable pay offer. Other branches in Water and Environment are encouraged by this development and call on the national officers to produce a guidance document to assist branches […]

Merger of the Water and Environment and Transport Service Group Executives

Conference welcomes the decision of the NEC to approve the merger of the Water and Environment and Transport Service Group Executives. Conference notes that the Executive’s planning for the merger of the two service groups was unavoidably delayed while the NEC consultation on the review of service groups took place. Consequently there has not been […]

Free ManSour Osanloo

Conference regrets that, despite his poor health, Mansour Osanloo, leader of the Iranian bus workers union, remains in prison in Iran for his trade union activities. Conference notes that UNISON has actively supported the campaign by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and Amnesty International to free Mansour Osanloo and other trade unionists detained by […]

Quality Public Transport

Conference notes that with the increasing use of Smartcard technology a significant number of jobs of data collection staff are under consideration by managements. Since de-regulation over 20 years ago the quality of public transport by bus is no longer paramount in the strategies of many bus operators. The media continues to report that a […]

No National Identity Cards for Airport Workers

Conference confirms its opposition to the proposal to require airside workers at UK airports to hold national identity cards as a condition of employment. Despite the opposition of UNISON and the other trade unions the airside workers at Manchester Airport and London City Airport will have to apply for an ID card in the next […]

UNISON Equality Duty – Input to Policy for Branch Activists

Conference welcomes publication of the UNISON Equality Duty and the positive prospect of equality for all minority groups within the union’s membership, and as women form the majority of this union, disabled women suffer multiple discrimination including low pay. Disabled members along with colleagues from the other self-organising groups have consistently campaigned for not only […]

When is Hate Crime not a Hate Crime?

Conference notes that HIV/AIDS is an issue for all of UNISON members not just disabled members or LGBT members. However, Conference is aware that there are a number of LGBT members affected by HIV/AIDS – be it living with HIV or knowing someone close to them who is living with HIV. Conference is concerned that […]

Deaf Adjustments

This Conference is concerned that Deaf members do not get reasonable adjustments to carry out their work. We need time allowed to organise things such as arrange to get interpreters, deal with invoices, fill in claim forms that should be included in work hours to reduce stressful/frustrated on deaf members. We find that some Deaf […]

Equality Representatives

Conference welcomes the introduction of Equality Reps pilot project and believes that it will be fundamental in raising awareness of the equality duties at branch level. Conference also welcomes the announcement in the Equality Bill of the extension of the promotions of the positive duties to include sexual orientation and gender re-assignment. Conference therefore believes […]

Equality Representatives Initiative Involving Black Disabled Members

Conference welcomes the Equality Representatives initiative that will enable work to be continued in supporting black disabled members and other members facing multi-discrimination. The Black Disabled Members Caucus welcomes the equality representatives initiative which will further enable UNISON equality work to continue in supporting black and disabled members facing multi-discrimination. We call upon National Disabled […]

Cervical Cancer

Conference notes that one in 20 women experience changes to cervical cells which could lead to cancer and that 900 women die of cervical cancer in England each year. Conference acknowledges that early detection can prevent cervical cancer developing in 75% of cases and that cervical cancer has no symptoms until it is quite advanced […]

HUMAN RIGHTS AND ELDER ABUSE IN CARE HOMES

The human rights now enshrined in legislation should affirm the equal dignity and worth, to which we are all entitled, but the human rights of our sector of society are daily and routinely violated and this needs to be stopped. Elder abuse is a shameful by-product of age discrimination and as such is totally unacceptable. […]

A NATIONWIDE CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL SCHEME

Conference will be aware that the Concessionary Bus Travel Act (CBT) 2007 came into force on 1 April 2008. The Act provides free, off-peak travel (valid between 9.30am-11pm weekdays and at all times on weekends and Bank Holidays) for pensioners and disabled people in England. This has been welcomed by pensioners but there have been […]

FUEL POVERTY

In the March 2008 Budget, Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, did not totally ignore the plight of pensioners and increased the fuel allowance by £50 to £250, a one-off payment to be paid in the autumn. But the Budget has once again failed to deliver on the eradication of pensioner poverty. Because of rapidly […]