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Is the Human Rights Act enough?

Contact Advert Dangers - Not just a Hetty Problem

National Lesbian and Gay Conference

How Do I Get My Voice Heard in the Union?

Regional Women’s Day

Lesbian & Gay Branch Meetings

Oscar’s column— Growing old caninefully

How to get in touch….

Is The Human Rights Act Enough?

Is the Human Rights Act adequate or do we need more protection as lesbians and gay men? Some of you may have attended last year's training on the Human Rights Act. If, like me, you also felt disappointed by its limitations you may also like to know that the Government omitted to sign up to Protocol no 12 which would have more effect.

Article 14 says “The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.”  Although this prohibits discrimination it is not an independent equality right.  It only gives protection from discrimination in relation to the enjoyment of the other rights in the Convention.  Given this weakness the Council of Europe drew up Protocol 12 which makes the right to equality a free-standing right.  Why is it that our Government has said that it does not plan to sign up to the Protocol or ratify it?

Protocol 12 would protect individuals from discrimination: -

*                In enjoying any right within national law

*                By public authorities carrying out their legal obligations, including when using discretionary powers such as grant making, and

*                Any other act or failure to act by a public authority.

Given that the Government has chosen to keep discrimination in superannuation schemes under the new Employment Directive, perhaps signing this protocol would be too threatening.   Perhaps it would mean that we might start to have the same rights from discrimination as heterosexuals: is this too threatening?   Maybe you want to write to your MP to ask why the Government are refusing to sign up to the Protocol?  If you want to find out more and have access to the internet you can contact Justice’s website at www.justice.org.uk/ourwork/discrimination/index.html 

Sue Turner, L&G Committee Member

Contact Advert Dangers - Not just a Hetty Problem

 Most magazines which carry contact advertisements also carry advice for meeting-up. Recently we have heard that within our Region there has been some reports of women who have been assaulted whilst on a date, arranged as a result of an advert. Please do ensure that you take all precautions when meeting up with someone for the first time, don’t assume that this is a problem that does not affect our community.

  *             Do not give out your home phone number or home address.

*                Meet in a public place, and stay in public places

*                Perhaps you might arrange for a friend to be in the same restaurant or bar

*                Think about your journey home: if you drive don’t park your car down a dark side street, or at the back of a car park; think about where the nearest busy bus stop will be… don’t leave yourself vulnerable by waiting at the nearest bus stop, if it is not one used by lots of people

*                If possible carry a mobile phone with you

  Bryony O’Hara

DON’T FORGET

The National Lesbian and Gay Conference is from 22-24 November and will be in Plymouth this year. 

The closing date for delegates registration is on 27th September.  Forms  are available now from your branch or from UNISONdirect on 0800 5979750 (voice) or 0800 0967968 (text).   As well as the usual debate of motions there will also be smaller group briefings and discussions on:

*                The new sexual orientation legislation

*                How to get our issues on the negotiating agenda

*                Transgender rights

*                Identifying and meeting our needs in the delivery of health and social care

*                Positive duties to promote equality, learning from the Race Relations (Amendment) Act and from Northern Ireland

If you're interested, why not apply.  It shouldn’t cost you anything, as the union pays for your hotel accommodation, travel, child or dependant care and meals.  Outside of a Pride event you won’t meet so many lesbians and gay men in one place for a weekend.  It will give you the opportunity to meet up with others within the Region, perhaps even your branch, network with other union members in different parts of the country and enjoy some interesting debates on issues that really do affect your life.

How Do I Get My Voice

Heard in the Union?

Well, there are quite a few ways such as becoming a steward or otherwise involved in your branch, or it could be by writing about an issue that concerns you and having this heard as a motion at our Conference or a Service Group Conference. 

  You may have been to Conference before and felt frustrated that issues from local government dominated and you work in gas and want to hear more about that.  Well, it is true that members from local government make up about 73% of the union but it’s really easy to get an issue discussed.  But there are many issues at our conference that are not simply employment issues but connected to our lives outside of work.  

Every service group, be that Police Support Staff, Higher Education, Health, Transport , Water or Energy, has their own Conference.  Even Local Government!  If you have an issue that affects your working life as a lesbian or gay man that you think should be addressed at a service group conference, then now is your chance to get the issue on the agenda.  We can submit two motions from the Lesbian and Gay Conference to each of the service groups.  The good news is that apart from health and local government  I have never seen two motions appear on our Conference’s agenda prior to Conference.  Most years the deadline is extended to after service group meetings at conference.   This means that your motion would end up being put forward to your service group conference.  Take note, all of  you who work in the voluntary sector, you are within the local government service group so if there’s an issue, you need to get your motion in by the submission date or you don’t stand a chance.

If you haven’t already switched off you may be asking how can I do this! Of course the answer is simple.  The deadline for each Regional Lesbian and Gay Group to submit a service group motion is 27th September.  All you need to do is come to the next Regional meeting on Tuesday, 17th September with some clearly written/typed up information about your issue and some ideas about what you would like to happen.  There won’t be time to find out further facts so make sure you bring all the information with you.  We will then try and put it into Conference lingo and Bob’s your uncle; a motion is born.  Alternatively contact Gerry (phone number on the back page) and one of the committee will meet with you beforehand and write a motion with you.

All lesbian and gay members are welcome to come to the next Committee meeting on Tuesday, 17th September from 6.30-8.30 pm at 24 Livery Street, Birmingham.  Your travel, meal, expenses etc would be refunded so you won’t be out of pocket. Your branch will only know of your attendance if you tell them.

 On Saturday, November 9th we will also be meeting and spending time looking at motions to conference and discussing any that are of interest or unclear etc.  If you are going to be a delegate or visitor to conference put this date in your diary now so that you can come and meet with other members who will be attending conference.

What Pension Rights?

Well, many of us are in superannuation schemes that don’t pay out to unmarried couples.  I’m sure we were all happy to hear about our MPs changing their own pension scheme to include unmarried partners, including same sex partners, and the 11% pay rise in case they had to make bigger contributions.  Meanwhile the government continues to refuse to change the law that would allow us the same rights, even though UNISON paid for research that showed there wouldn’t be an additional cost to members.  Apparently it's not about discrimination, but all employers couldn’t afford to make the change so there’s no point in changing the legislation to let those employers that want to make changes!

We haven’t forgotten about the promised training on pensions, living wills and powers of attorney but it’s not that easy to find a trainer.  Anita’s on the case and we hope to fit the training day in before November.

Regional Women’s Day

Saturday, 5th October 10.00-4.00,

Aston Villa, Birmingham

  Morning sessions around asylum seekers and
opportunities to do some workshops including alcohol awareness, tap dancing and women’s health. 

This event is open to all women UNISON members and if you know someone eligible to join the union why not bring them along, they will be welcome and it will be a great chance for them to see what the union has to offer.

  Please contact Anita Edwards for an application form ae@unison.co.uk

  Closing date for applications 13th September.

Lesbian & Gay Branch Meetings