Conference is concerned to learn that Private Finance Initiative employers are not included in Agenda for Change. It is well known that in many trusts a high proportion of Black and Ethnic Minority workers are employed in the PFI sector. Research has also highlighted that Black and Ethnic Minority workers are amongst the highest number […]
Conference motions
Conference notes that despite the Race Relations (Amendment) Act (RRAA) and introduction of race equality schemes, employers are continuing to drag their heels and do little to implement positive action. The publication of league tables is still not transparent, in that the majority of employers are not publicising the results. The Department of Health has […]
Conference notes the initiatives being pursued by the various health departments to address recruitment and retention of staff, specifically around flexible working and other initiatives to enable staff to achieve a better work-life balance. UNISON has campaigned long and hard to address these issues on behalf of members and the timing of key initiatives such […]
Conference is pleased to note the success of the work to create a learning culture in health branches carried out with support from Union Learning Funded projects across UNISON. To date since 2002 well over 750 learning advisers and reps* working in xx branches+ have been trained. Pilot branches in each region are trialling training […]
Conference notes the publication of the First Report of the Pensions Commission on Tuesday, 12 October 2004. In particular, Conference notes that the Commission has identified three ways to alleviate the pensions crisis: a)People must save more (compulsory savings cannot be ruled out); b)People must work longer; c)People must pay more (tax and/or contributions). Conference […]
Conference expresses its concern at the proposals recently suggested by Coventry city and no doubt under consideration by other councils, to take steps to reduce the current council tax arrears, especially with regard to the draconian proposals for dealing with debt involving the elderly. These proposals including increases in the taking of bankruptcy proceedings, forcing […]
Conference notes that the first part of the Turner Commission Report on Pensions is published on Tuesday, 12 October. The report will not recommend specific policy solutions but provide a detailed analysis of the pensions crisis. Leaked information, which appeard in the national press on Sunday, 10 October, reveals that the Turner report has identified […]
Conference welcomes the decisions taken by this year’s National Delegate Conference to address the impact of devolution to the nations of the United Kingdom on UNISON’s structures and decision-making processes. UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning for devolution, recognising the opportunities that different political structures provide to influence policy makers for the benefit […]
Conference welcomes the production of the pensioners’ manifesto by the National Pensioners’ Convention. The final version of the manifesto will include a summary of the main priorities as well as a costing of how the policies can be funded. This is a truly historic initiative to put forward a coherent set of pensioners’ demands at […]
Whilst appreciating the action taken by the government for those national insurance retired pensioners over the age of 70, by the one off payment of £100 to alleviate the effects of the rising council tax, Conference notes with regret that the government is still practising ageism by rewarding the £100 council tax relief only to […]
Visitors to the Conference are seated separately and are unable to vote, but they learn a lot about procedures which will be helpful in future if they become delegates. There does not seem however to be any reason why they should not attend the workshops which may also help them in the future and they […]
Important information is frequently presented in ways difficult to read as the type size may be too small and there may be insufficient colour contrast between the print and the paper. The computer seems to have made this problem more common. Examples can be found in newspapers, cooking instructions, information to do with financial matters […]
Conference expresses its concern that additional payments for items such as the winter fuel allowance are subject to the recipient attaining the specified age by a certain date. It feels that this means a number of pensioners do not become entitled to the payment until the following year. Conference therefore calls upon the National Retired […]
Conference is alarmed at the threat to the Local Government Pension Scheme posed by the government’s plans to introduce amended regulations. Conference sees this as part of a wider move to undermine pensions in general. Conference calls on the National Retired Members’ Committee and all retired members’ sections to support the TUC’s Pay Up For […]
Conference calls on the National Retired Members’ Committee and the National Executive Council to lobby the government to introduce a nationally run travel scheme for all people over 60 years of age. Free travel passes are already in existence in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Liverpool, London and other areas. However the minority of the country […]