Post Office Closures and Post Office Card Accounts

Conference notes that Ministers have announced that the Department for Work and Pensions will not extend the contract for the Post Office card account beyond 2010 despite the fact that 2.3 million pensioners use the card as a way of collecting their state pension. When the Government ended the use of pension books in 2003, […]

Pensions White Paper and Restoration of the Link

Conference notes that on May 25th 2006 the Government published a Pensions White Paper setting out how it planned to implement the recommendations of the Turner Report. The White Paper contains some positive proposals intended to increase the value of the state pension in the light of the decline of many occupational pensions and include […]

Amendment to Standing Order 3 – Motions and Amendments

Add new S3.5 Each motion shall contain no more than 500 words (except composites) and each amendment shall contain no more than 250 words

Amendment to Standing Order 1 – Application of Standing Order

In Standing Order 1.2, after “Black and Disabled Members’ Caucuses” insert “or Bisexual Members’ Caucus or Transgender Members’ Caucus”.

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 […]

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 […]

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.”

Retired Members’ Forums

The South East Region Retired Members’ Committee strongly objects to the resolution passed at the National Delegate Conference 2006 apparently down grading retired members’ committees to the status of forums, without consultation with retired members at any level. Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee to vigorously seek to regain the original status for retired […]

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, […]