Conference photos now online

National Conference photos now on picasa at http://picasaweb.google.com/unisonscotland

Conference stories updated

New and updated Conference reports now on website #undc12 http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/index.html

Welfare Reform Act is built on a sham

#undc12 UNISON will work with homeless charities and housing federations to campaign against the changes to housing benefit and for the retention of local advice and support services. Full story at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story12.htm

Organise to end apartheid in Palestine

#undc12 Sarah Collins of East Ayrshire Branch told Conference that even as we celebrate the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Africa, there is evidence of growing apartheid in Palestine. See full story at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story13.htm

Campaign for disability leave

#undc12 UNISON will examine the failure of some employers to implement disability leave policies and will develop guidance for branches to negotiate such policies and to challenge bad practice with the Equality Act 2010.

Bill Dunn, Disabled Members' Officer, Highland Healthcare, long time delegate and first time speaker, said that union colleagues at the Disabled Members Conference six years ago were surprised to hear that an NHS employer showed little consideration towards staff members with disabilities. See full story at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story11.htm

Child poverty: An injustice we have to fight

#undc12 UNISON will lobby and work with a range of organisations to campaign for an end to child poverty by 2020. Click here for Kate Ramsden's speech. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story10.htm

Neville Lawrence: ‘UNISON has stayed with us'

#undc12 Interview with Neville Lawrence before his moving speech to Conference this morning.It's a question you dread asking Neville Lawrence. He must have been asked it a million times yet he answered with the thoughtful respect and honesty we've come to know over an inspirational and dignified 18 year campaign.

Enough is enough - Campaign for fair pay

#undc12 North Ayrshire’s Stephanie Herd, Chair of the Scottish Local Government Committee brought a Scottish dimension to the pay debate, as delegates condemned the government’s proposals for pay restraint following on from the current pay freeze. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story6.htm

There is a better way - Start building for 20 October

#undc12 UNISON will continue to put forward an alternative economic strategy focused on building a successful economy in order to support a better society as it builds towards the major demo on 20 October.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story5.htm

March for the future of the NHS

#undc12 The UK Government’s Health and Social Care Act represents the biggest threat to the integrity and values of the NHS in England in its history and Conference voted overwhelmingly for a range of measures to resist the worst effects of the Act and to intensify UNISON’s campaign against further cuts and privatisation. See http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story4.htm

Resources to support devolution

#undc21 Devolution took centre stage at National Conference as delegates agreed a call from Scotland to review the devolution protocols and recognised the need to support devolved bargaining with additional resources and appropriate procedures. Crucially, it also agreed support for UNISON in Scotland to engage members in the constitutional debate to ensure the union reflects the views of Scottish members. See full story at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2012/story3.htm

We've tasted victory, let's do it again

#undc12 Conference committed the union to building on the ‘Million Voices’ campaign for public services, further developing the community campaigning agenda.

Elder abuse: Time to act

#undc12 Scottish vulnerable persons legislation could be a model for the UK, Conference was told as it voted unanimously to back a strategy to tackle elder abuse. Moving an amendment to the Retired Members Committee motion, Strathclyde Police and Fire’s Brian Molloy called for a campaign to get Westminster legislation similar to Scotland’s Adult Support and Protection Act.