Democratic structures create public bodies which are open and transparent in their dealings with the public. Universities are not businesses, they are not owned by principals or senior managers, but rather they are societal institutions which are as much owned by the students and the staff who work there as their senior managers. Universities […]
The Cole report raises a range of issues which are relevant not just to public sector building projects but to the safety of all building work in Scotland. Concerns go beyond new building projects and include the ongoing maintenance and safety of existing structures. UNISON believes that much more work needs to be done to […]
Colleges must be accountable to communities which they serve. Democratic structures create public bodies which are open and transparent in their dealings with the public. Even private sector organisations are required to have a level of corporate governance and openness. Colleges are public bodies and should follow the same principles as other public sector bodies. […]
UNISON Scotland broadly supports the ambition and the specific targets set out in the consultation paper. A whole system approach, with stable transition to a more local and decarbonised energy system is clearly the correct approach. We also recognise that important elements of energy policy are reserved and we agree that important decisions […]
UNISON Scotland is opposed to fracking and we do not believe the case has been made to lift the current moratorium. We have three main grounds for reaching this view. Safety We should follow the precautionary principle in terms of safety when the evidence is inconclusive. This is rooted in Scotland’s industrial heritage as anyone […]
UNISON Scotland Response to Consultation on Policing 2026: Serving a changing Scotland Police Scotland & Scottish Police Authority May 2017 Introduction UNISON Scotland represents the police staff who work alongside officers as a vital part of the police team. Our police staff provide a wide range of skills and specialisms in order to deliver […]
The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee is holding an inquiry into the gender pay gap. The inquiry will focus on how we define and measure the gender pay gap; the gender pay gap in Scotland’s sectors; and Scottish Government action that is being taken, and can be taken, to reduce the gender […]
The Scottish Government is consulting about a new approach to workforce planning in health and social care. In UNISON Scotland’s response we highlight the weaknesses in the current fragmented system and the challenges facing the sector in the coming years. We argue for a national workforce framework that includes consistent data collection and a sectoral […]
UNISON believes that tackling child poverty is an important and achievable aim. The Scottish government’s plan to restore the commitments and targets set by the UK Child Poverty Act are very welcome. We would though like to see the bill do more than target setting. The Scottish government should use this bill to set out […]
The Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee is conducting an inquiry into the NHS Scotland Staff Governance Standard. This is the UNISON Scotland submission to that inquiry, which confirms our support for the Standard, while recognising that it can always be improved.