DON’T BE DONE OUT OF YOUR RIGHTS

For many years UNISON has emphasised the importance of a Bill of Rights to creating right relationships and tackling division and discrimination within our deeply divided society.

A public consultation on a proposed Bill has now been launched by the Secretary of State.  It disgracefully abandons all the work done by unions and civic society over the past 20 years.  It clearly ignores the views of UNISON, the Human Rights Commission and the majority of people here that their Bill of Rights be strong and inclusive and have enforceable social and economic rights at its core. 

Such rights would afford protection for key services like health and social services, education, public housing and much of the work done by the voluntary and community sector. They would also protect workers and trade union members.

Ignoring these views and the level of work that has gone into this process over the course of the past two decades is both disrespectful and unacceptable.

In response, UNISON is supporting the Human Rights Consortium campaign ‘DON’T BE DONE OUT OF YOUR RIGHTS’ which creates an opportunity for the public to have their say on the contents of a Bill of Rights, helping to ensure the inclusion of socio-economic protections such as the right to health.

There are many ways UNISON members can get involved in the campaign, voicing their support for a strong Bill of Rights. Over the coming weeks every home will receive a leaflet which, when completed and returned, will be treated as an individual submission to the consultation. Alternatively, people can add their signature and invite friends to show their support at www.billofrightsni.org