EXTENDING OUR EQUALITY WORK

Conference welcomes the gains made by UNISON towards winning equality for lesbian and gay workers organised within the local government service group and in the provision of local government services which recognise and meet the needs of lesbian and gay service users. However, Conference acknowledges that there is still much to be done and that […]

TRADES UNION CONGRESS GENERAL COUNCIL

Conference notes that, following earlier changes to secure the representation of black workers, in 2001 the Trades Union Congress General Council was further enlarged to include three new sections, H, I and J, representing respectively trades unionists with disabilities, lesbian and gay trades unionists and trades unionists under 27 years of age. In 2002 bisexual […]

ASYLUM IN THE UK

Conference notes with concern the rise in attacks on asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Conference condemns those politicians and media whose use of stereotypes and myths create a climate in which attacks on asylum seekers and the abuse of their human rights is seen as a valid response. Recent reports by Oxfam Scotland […]

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE

Conference welcomes the increased profile of lesbian and gay workplace issues in the work of many parts of our union, while acknowledging that there is still much to be done. Conference recognises that UNISON’s ability to organise, negotiate and campaign effectively on equality issues flows directly from its commitment to self-organisation. Conference notes that since […]

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES IN THE HEALTH SERVICE

Conference welcomes the work carried out by the Health Group on issues affecting lesbians and gay men but believes that bisexual and transgender issues have not received sufficient prominence. Conference notes, for example, that transgender health workers face particular pressures, especially when working in clinical environments (in both clinical and non-clinical posts). Conference acknowledges therefore […]

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS

This conference believes that the Home Secretary’s National Identity Card Initiative is an attack at an individual’s right to privacy and a possible violation of their human rights. Areas of concern include: 1.Recording of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, race, colour, or impairments; 2.Recording of a person’s political persuasion or religious beliefs; 3.Medical data […]

FULL EQUALITY IN PARTNERSHIP RIGHTS

Conference welcomes the Civil Partnership Bill, but believes it falls short of full equality. Conference therefore calls for the following: 1.Both marriage and civil partnership should be available to both same and opposite partners; 2.There should be legal recognition for same and opposite partners who are either unable or unwilling to register or marry; 3.Equality […]

SUPPORTING DVERSITY REPRESENTATION THROUGH CULTURAL EVENTS

Conference congratulates the North West Region for its support to the production and premier of Arek (a film about holocaust survival). Conference notes that the film omitted to portray the full range of diverse peoples targeted by the holocaust, including trade unionists, lesbians and gay men, Roma people and others. Conference congratulates the City and […]

QUALITY OF EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION REPRESENTATION

At the National Delegate Conference in 1997 Conference voted overwhelmingly for paid Black officers in every region – to be available amongst other things, to advise on the quality of representation afforded to Black Members. The union saw fit never to implement this motion despite the motion being union policy. Prior to and since this […]

RACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT ACT AND RACE EQUALITY SCHEMES

Since the Amendment to the Race Relations Acts of 1976 and the implementation of the Race Equality Schemes in April 2002, little progress appears to have been made in all of the public sectors. Employers continue to drag their heels and demonstrate lack of enthusiasm regarding producing and implementing their Race Equality Schemes. Conference therefore […]

MIGRATION TRAFFICKING AND TRADE

This Black Members’ Conference notes the Government’s programme of managed migration and acknowledges that there is a need to open a proper debate about the demand for migration workers. If the UK is to sustain its place as the world’s fourth largest economy then migration is needed. Conference believes that as well as accepting the […]

GENOCIDE IN SUDAN

The Sudanese government’s campaign of the ethnic cleansing of Black Africans is all but complete. State-backed Arab militia and the Sudanese army have driven over a million people from their homes. Murder, rape and robbery are the tools used to force Black Africans to flee the Darfur region. The West’s response has been to flood […]

MASSACRES IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN UGANDA BY LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY

Conference note that over the last 18 years, the rebels of Lord Resistance Army (LRA) have been abducting children, torturing and slaughtering innocent people of Northern & Eastern Uganda. The 18 year war against Uganda Government by the LRA has resulted in numerous massacres of the local population and the abduction of up to 20,000 […]

Migrant Workers

Conference notes that there is a global increase in the number of migrant workers. Many are very skilled with extensive knowledge and skills in the UK, we should value the contribution they make to our economy and the ethnic and cultural diversity they bring to this society. We should welcome all migrant workers who are […]

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Conference is concerned about the over representation of Black employees targeted for CRB Checks. We are aware that the Criminal Justice system is institutionally racists and that Local Authorities in general are also guilty of institutionalised racism. In addition Conference has seen the inappropriate use of the Police Stop and Search against the Black Community. […]