Rights of public service workers to organise and collective bargaining

The International Trade Union Confederations’s (ITUC) annual survey of the violation of trade union rights for 2007 documented details of workers’ rights violations in 138 countries. Serious and systematic harassment and intimidation was reported in 63 countries. Seventy-three unionists were sent to prison in 2007, including 40 in Iran alone, where systematic suppression of workers […]

CUBA

In this the 50th anniversary year of the Cuban revolution UNISON salutes the people of Cuba and their achievements. UNISON commends the impressive advances that have been made in the fields of health care, education, sustainable development and many others. These advances put Cuba amongst the top rank of nations in terms of human development […]

Funding the Equal Pay Challenge

Conference continues to believe that a principle priority for UNISON is combating pay inequalities and securing equal pay for work of equal value for all our members, in properly evaluated and negotiated framework agreements. Conference notes that establishing equal pay for our members was one of the founding principles of the union. Conference recognises that […]

New Challenges for the NHS

Conference congratulates health workers on their hard work, which coupled with increased government funding, has brought about a continuous improvement in the services that patients can expect from the NHS. Waiting times have been reduced to a maximum of 18 weeks from referral to treatment in England, with waiting lists at an all-time low across […]

Public Services

Conference believes that the current recession, caused by the greed and irresponsibility of speculators in the City, demonstrates once again the fundamental importance of public services. Public service workers around the country are on the front line of protecting individuals and communities from the ravages of market forces. In every single service UNISON members must […]

RULE C 5.2 AND C 5.5 BECOMING A MEMBER

Rule C 5 Delete existing rule C.5.2 and replace with: “Rule C.5.2 Providing that the applicant is eligible for membership within these Rules and has not previously been expelled or barred from membership of the union, or has previously ceased to be a member whilst a disciplinary charge against her/him was outstanding, she/he shall become […]

D 3.1.1 SERVICE GROUPS

Rule D 3.1.1 Delete “Water and Environment” and “Transport”, and insert “Water, Environment and Transport”

D 3.1.1 SERVICE GROUPS

Rule D 3.1.1 Delete “Police Staff” and insert “Police and Justice”

D 3.1.1 SERVICE GROUPS

Rule D 3.1.1 Add to list of service groups before “Energy”, “Community” Delete Rule D.1.3.2.2 and D3.7.4 and renumber accordingly

Domestic Violence/Abuse

Conference is appalled to note that, according to Home Office statistics, domestic violence accounts for one in six violent incidents as measured by the British Crime Survey, with 85% of those victims being women, and one in four victims having been assaulted three or more times. The government’s national domestic violence delivery plan highlighted action […]

Academies

Conference is concerned to hear that the Director of Children’s Services at Plymouth City Council is considering the possibility of setting up academy schools in Plymouth despite having always been against them in the past. Furthermore, it is alarming to hear that the reason for this change of heart is due to Department for Children, […]

Promoting Awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in the workplace and in UNISON

Conference notes the great strides that UNISON has been able to make supporting disabled people’s rights to employment, goods, facilities and services by using the Disability Discrimination Act’s (DDA) provisions to challenge discriminatory actions. We also applaud UNISON’s commitment to promote equality within the union through its own equality scheme. More recently disabled people have […]

Defending Social Europe

Conference believes that Social Europe, a series of European directives developed over the past 20 years covering amongst other things employment law, health and safety measures and equality is under sustained attack. Conference notes that recent rulings by the European Court of Justice, most notably the Laval, Viking, Rueffert and Luxembourg cases, have clearly established […]

The Recession and Disabled People

Conference applauds the work undertaken by UNISON to highlight the plight of disabled workers during the recession, in particular for the union’s support for the lobby of Parliament on 3 March 2009. Disabled workers face greater hardship than non disabled people with fewer chances of securing alternative work; our government cannot go back into business […]

NHS charges

Conference congratulates the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland on progressive reforms they have made. In particular we commend their abolition of car parking fees at NHS sites and the abolition of NHS prescription charges. Both these charges are in effect a tax on sickness and can amount to considerable sums. These moves are a […]