This Conference notes that the introduction of the public sector duties represented a step change in how employers delivering public services must address inequalities. Equality impact assessments (EIAs) play a key role in the implementation of the duties and they are a legal requirement for authorities covered by specific duties. They aim to ensure that […]
Conference motions
This Conference notes with alarm the increasing and unwarranted attacks on public sector pensions. Whilst it is true to say that a growing gap between public and private sector pensions caused by the employer retreat from decent pensions in the private sector, it is wrong to conclude that the answer is to level down public […]
Conference applauds the National Women’s Committee on work done to date to support the work of Rape Crisis however there is still more work to be done. Conference believes that rape crisis centres are essential and believe that there should be adequate government funding for the centres to operate. For example, there is only one […]
This Conference is concerned at the growing body of evidence supplied by media investigation, that major corporations such as Vodaphone, BT, Sky and Amazon are benefiting in some way from the trade in hardcore pornography and that UNISON members’ pension funds may be invested in companies with an involvement in a trade which is based […]
Conference expresses concern at the rise of the BNP and other far-right groups, such as the English Defence League, who are organising throughout the UK, claiming to be the voice of British people. Conference affirms that we will not sit back and allow far-right organisations to enter mainstream politics as has happened in some other […]
Conference welcomes the raft of legislation in recent years that has been introduced and refined around maternity provision for women which has benefited thousands of women and their families. However, many women choosing to return to work after having children can often find this difficult both emotionally and practically. Whilst on maternity leave, even just […]
Conference welcomes the 2009 TUC Congress resolution, submitted by the FBU, and statement from TUC General Council which: 1)condemned the Israeli offensive on Gaza and its continuing blockade on the territory; 2)called for a negotiated settlement based on international law and justice for the Palestinians; and 3)committed to work with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) […]
In the year 2000, at the Millennium Summit, 189 member’s states of the United Nations declared that they would spare no effort to achieve a set of eight goals aimed at raising the level of development, health and prosperity of the globe by the end of the year of 2015. These goals were: 1)Eradication of […]
Much is happening in the trade union world about women. For example, in October 2009 the International Trade Union Confederation held a conference entitled “Decent Work, Decent Life for Women”. 450 women trade unionists from 100 countries discussed women’s issues; formulated strategies and collaborated on campaigns. UNISON’s International Committee does fantastic work to build alliances […]
Conference will be aware of the major changes that are being introduced to social care, both in the policy direction and provision of social care. This was originally piloted in local government and is now being extended into the health service affecting thousands of our members the vast majority of whom are women. These changes […]
Conference is concerned that many of our women members who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not know what help and support they are entitled to. Breast cancer can cause many problems, apart from the obvious health issues. It is time that we started to recognise the true cost of breast cancer and all the […]
This conference welcomes the opportunity presented by the creation of the new schools staff negotiating body to properly recognise the true worth of our schools staff members. Without our women members working as school meals staff, caretakers, librarians, administrators and teaching assistants, schools would simply not function, yet all too often these women are low […]
On Tuesday 14 July, the date on which BNP members Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons formally took their seats in the European Parliament, the Hope not Hate petition was delivered to the parliament and 90,000 people said “not in my name”. Fortunately, Griffin failed in his remarkable application for a seat on the Committee on […]
National women’s conference welcomes the Million Voices campaign. From healthcare to education, nursery and maternity provision, public transport, social care, recreation, parks and playgrounds, unquestionably it is women who are both the majority users of and providers of our public services. But during the last year we have seen more and more how the recession […]
Conference welcomes the recent changes to the frequency of smear testing from five years to every three years. However, this still is not frequent enough as women’s lives are still endangered. The legal age of consent is sixteen and this should be the age that smear tests commence. With the increase in the number of […]