OFWAT Price Review

Conference notes the representations made by UNISON to both OFWAT and Government concerning the price review currently underway. It particularly welcomes the responses made to the various official consultative papers. Conference recognises that the new prices to be introduced in April 2005 will have a significant impact upon the employees of the water companies in […]

Restoration of the Value of the State Pension

Conference notes the introduction of the pensioner credits scheme and notes that more than one million pensioners have not made application for such credits. The low take-up rate of these means-tested benefits was thoroughly predictable Conference believes that restoration of the state pension scheme to its former monetary value is the proper way forward and […]

Pensions

Conference notes that: 1)the UK continues to face a crisis in its pensions provisions for the future; 2)despite government initiatives such as raising payments to the poorest pensioners, free eye tests and the winter fuel allowance, too many pensioners are still condemned to live and die in poverty; 3)there are widespread moves in private sector […]

Single Status

This Conference notes: 1)That Motion 31 carried at last year’s Conference called for an immediate campaign to ensure that Single Status is implemented 2)That Motion 31 agreed that the failure to implement Single Status was a debacle and that branches were being left to fight alone 3)That to date, no such immediate campaign has been […]

Devolution and Trade Unions

Conference notes that UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning for devolution to the nations and regions of the UK. Devolution has resulted in the emergence of different political structures that provide further opportunities to influence policy makers for the benefit of our members as providers and users of services and as citizens. The […]

Organising in the Voluntary and Community Sector

Conference agrees that our work in the Voluntary and Community sector (and also within private companies) is becoming of increasing importance. Many of our members work in small organisations, with few staff and consequently no stewards or activists. Many organisations do not recognise UNISON and their size leaves them outside the laws on trade union […]

Local Government – Defending National Terms and Conditions

Conference is wary of the national employers’ wishes to ‘modernise’ working practices and the effect this will have on pay, terms and conditions for local government workers. Having witnessed ‘modernisation’ in, most graphically, the civil and fire services, we understand this is a euphemism for an attack on nationally negotiated terms and conditions. Conference opposes […]

Remodelling The School Workforce

This Conference recognises that the experience of school remodelling for our members has been largely negative and counterproductive. Whilst it is true that some branches have recruited large numbers of support staff to the union on the back of the agreement, as yet this has not resulted in any major improvements in terms and conditions. […]

National Agreement on Remodelling the School Workforce

This Regional Local Government Committee believes the National Agreement on Remodelling the School Workforce is a document, which should provide an opportunity to review and significantly improve the terms, conditions and working lives of school support staff. However for many branches the reality is that Headteachers and Governors, with the abrogation of the LEA of […]

2004 NJC England, Wales and Northern Ireland Pay Claim – What a Difference Two Years Can Make

This Conference agrees to submit the following motion on behalf of the South East Region to the 2004 Local Government Conference. This Conference notes that in 2002 hundreds of thousands of UNISON members took strike action in support of a pay claim which called for a flat rate increase of £1750 or 6%, whichever was […]

Raising the Profile of Lesbian and Gay Self-Organisation in Colleges of Further Education

This Conference welcomes the call in the resolution “Branch, Steward and Workplace Organisation” of 2003 National Delegate Conference for the development of a programme of improving organisation in further education (FE) colleges. Conference believes that this programme should include initiatives to raise the profile of self-organisation in FE colleges and to encourage participation by FE […]

Community Development

Conference recalls the National Executive Council’s decision that UNISON affiliate to the Standing Conference for Community Development (SCCD) and that this decision was taken as a result of a proposal made in the first place by the Youth and Community Workers Forum to the Service Group Executive. The forum’s original aim was to seek to […]

Organisation of Young Members

Conference notes: 1) the hard work and commitment of activists at branch, regional and national level that resulted in the excellent young members’ recruitment figures for 2003, and that this is recognised as an essential part of UNISON’s work in building a sustainable, organised union; 2)that successful campaigning/organising work led by young members around workplace […]

Transport Policy

Conference notes the success of the free bus travel system in Wales which has extended travel to all persons aged over 60 and disabled people. The Welsh system allows travel on any one, or a series of, buses for journeys beginning and ending in Wales. The benefits have been substantial and have led to an […]

NEC Staffing Committee

Conference notes that Rule D.2.9.1 gives the National Executive Council, or the General Secretary acting on its behalf, the power to engage or dismiss such staff as may be required for the conduct of the business of the union. And further that Rule D.2.9.2 states that the National Executive Council shall determine the pay and […]