E-Quality |
May 2009
Equality Bill
UNISON has welcomed many of the measures in the Equalities Bill which was published on 27 April, 2009 but believe that more action is needed if women are to achieve equal pay. We are disappointed by the absence of key reforms needed to close the gender pay gap.
UNISON has been calling for the Bill to include gender pay audits, which are the best way to ensure that companies are complying with the law by paying men and women equally for equivalent work. At present the gap between the average pay for men and women working full time is 17.1%.
It is proposed in the Bill that companies with over 250 staff should be required to publish their gender pay gap - but they would not be required to explain why the gap exists or to show how they will take action to reduce any illegal pay discrimination.
Moreover there is a four year delay before anything is required, and no guarantee that this will actually happen as measures in the Bill just enable future regulations to make such as requirement.
Given that so little may be required from companies it is all the more disappointing that nothing will happen for another four years.
As it stands the Bill will not prevent women being paid less than men or deliver justice to those unfairly paid. Forty years after the passing of the Equal Pay Act it is time for tougher action.
The new law proposes a ban on discrimination in relation to employment and areas beyond this such as goods, facilities and services. It will also implement the Coleman judgement in Great Britain which prohibits discrimination against carers by protecting people who are 'associated with' someone who is disabled.
The second reading of the Bill could be heard as early as 11 May.
Further information on the Bill and UNISON's response, can be found on www.unison.org.uk/equality
Equal Pay
UNISON is working hard to ensure that all our members get fair pay and equal treatment at work.
Three court cases have recently found in favour of UNISON further information can be found on the UNISON website www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=5262
UNISON Equality Scheme
The revised text of the three year UNISON equality scheme is now at www.unison.org.uk/equality/scheme.asp UNISON's equality scheme is a plan of action for the whole union, setting out how we will promote equality in everything we do. It has been revised following consultation with members and staff. Further information - including how to get copies in different formats - from equality@unison.co.uk
National minimum wage - has your MP signed Early Day Motion 1163?
UNISON is working with key campaigning partners to celebrate, defend and improve the national minimum wage. Part of the campaign is to get as many MPs as possible to sign up to EDM 1163 which calls for key improvements in the national minimum wage. We are calling on members to write to their MPs as a matter of urgency to ask them to sign the EDM. You can see the text and who has already signed up at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=38283&SESSION=899
You can email your MP via http://www.minimumwage.org.uk/yourmp.asp
The new Equality Framework for Local Government
The new Equality Framework for Local Government published by I&DeA replaced the Equality Standard for Local Government in April 2009. The main key change is the replacement of the Equality Standard Levels 1 - 5 with 3 new status groups - "Emerging, Achieving and Excellent". The Framework also has accompanying additional guidance on Equal Pay and further guidance on Procurement is to be published shortly. Further information on the Framework has been set out in a branch circular. The full document can be found at the I&DeA website http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9491107. If you have any concerns about how your local authority is implementing the Framework please contact a.roche@unison.co.uk
Don't do politics
UNISON has launched a new campaign to encourage women to get involved and to encourage them to see that politics isn't dry discussions and isn't just something that men 'do'.
The centrepiece of the campaign is a series of postcards explaining that, while people might say: "I don't" about politics, they care about issues that are political. - The key message is to get involved - and to use your vote. Further information about the campaign is available on the UNISON website www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=8327
Public Sector Duties
Have you used the Public Sector Duties when negotiating with employers? Please let us know how you got on. Email us at equality@unison.co.uk or write to UNISON Means Equality, 1 Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9AJ
UNISON's anti-racist strategy
UNISON believes that engaging all parts of the organisation in deciding how to correct any adverse impact experienced by Black workers is a fundamental responsibility.
The Union's anti-racist strategy was devised in 2004 on the back of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Task Group which looked into how the Union should address the inquiry's recommendations to tackle institutional racism
The strategy works to integrate race equality as a core part of the way UNISON works, and to embed race equality into all aspects of the union's activity. Overall responsibility for the strategy rests with the NEC and the senior management team of the union. Further information available from the UNISON website www.unison.org.uk/challengingracism
Welfare Bill
UNISON is continuing its campaign to raise concerns about governments' plans for welfare reform. The attached briefing provides a guide to our involvement so far and our plans to gather support the in House of Lords at Committee stage on April 29th. The proposals in the Welfare Bill build on the Green paper No one written off from July 2008 and the white paper Raising expectations and Increasing Support from December 2008.
Further information is available from the UNISON website www.unison.org.uk/disability/pages_view.asp?did=8654
Ending violence against women and girls - Government Consultation
The largest-ever cross-Government public consultation to tackle violence against women and girls was launched in March by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. It includes a review into police powers for dealing with serial perpetrators of domestic violence and a review of the sexualisation of teenage girls.
The Together We Can End Violence Against Women And Girls Strategy consultation sets out action Government has taken to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls. It looks at what more can be done to challenge the attitudes that may uphold it in order to help women and girls feel safer.
To participate in, or view the consultation, go to:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/violence-against-women1/
Equality and Human Rights Commission calls for radical approach to parental leave that gives mothers and fathers real choice
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched proposals for a change in parental leave to give mothers and fathers greater support in bringing up children.
The plan would increase the take up of the present provision by those missing out - namely fathers and lower income parents. The Commission says that the changes will help tackle the gender pay-gap, bring greater support and social benefits to parents and children, and show modern ways of working are better for the economy.
The report also reveals findings from a major survey of 4,500 parents. They show high levels of demand for new flexible working practices to support families from all income groups - including new ways of allowing fathers to spend more time with their children.
The Commission's ten-year strategy will result in leave being divided more equally between parents. The report also calls for higher levels of maternity and paternity pay to increase uptake, particularly among men, lone parents and lower income groups.
UNISON supports proposals which would allow partners to play a greater role in the upbringing of their children, but not at the expense of improved maternity pay and leave for mothers. We also believe that the current statutory maternity pay provisions are too low. However, we welcome the opportunity the report presents for a debate on the issues.
For full details on the proposals, go to:
www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/newsandcomment/Pages/workingbetterpr.aspx
Abuse of Disabled and Older People
A report in the Guardian newspaper advises on a report from the Association of Directors of Adult Care Services (ADACS) that disabled and older people are at greater risk of abuse because of the recession. The ADACS report is based on a survey that indicated a marked increase in suspected incidents.
www.unison.org.uk/disabled/pages_view.asp?did=8655
Campaign Guide
Many branch activists are experienced at campaigning, but it's always helpful to think about the way that we do things. UNISON has produced a new campaign guide with some basic hints on how to achieve results. This is available on the UNISON website www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B1864.pdf
Pride Events
Pride events are excellent places to recruit new members, and your regional lgbt group will be able to let you know when your local prides are taking place. Why not go along on the day and help out on the UNISON stall - new lgbt recruitment materials are available www.unison.org.uk/out
Going to National Delegate Conference?
Why don't you come along to the equalities fringe meeting, "Equality on hold? How the recession impacts on our equalities agenda" on Wednesday 17 June, during the lunch break. The venue for the meeting will be in your conference guide.
Self Organised Group Conferences
The dates for each of the Self Organised Group Conferences were included in the April edition of E-Quality; all of the information is available on the UNISON Website www.unison.org.uk/equality
Recruitment - Why is recruiting so important?
It's all our responsibility to recruit. Organised workplaces with a high density of membership give UNISON greater influence with local management and employers.
Remember that it is particularly important to recruit young members if UNISON is to grow and be strong in the future.
'Nobody asked me!' That's the single biggest reason people give for not having joined a trade union.
And the best people to recruit new members are the UNISON members who work alongside them.
You can now get your friends and colleagues to join on online, go to the following link www.unison.org.uk/join
For more information on equality in UNISON, including contact points in your region, visit:
www.unison.org.uk/equality/index.asp
UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ
Tel 0845 3550845
Want more info? Visit our website at www.unison.org.uk for comprehensive news, info and updates on UNISON's campaigns and information. If you need help or information fast, call UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845.
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