Women members equality

UNISON’s new Maternity Rights Report reveals the experiences of over 2,300 women during pregnancy, maternity leave and their return to work. The findings highlight widespread problems – including inadequate risk assessments, discrimination, poor HR processes and financial pressures forcing early return – as well as examples of good practice. The report sets out clear recommendations to improve support, flexibility and protections for pregnant women and new mothers across UK workplaces.

Detailed report of the result of the UNISON November 2025 Bereavement Leave Survey

Following the ruling by the supreme court, organisations and individuals were invited to submit a response to the EHRC consultation. This is UNISON’s response. The consultation remains open until 23.59 on 30 June 2025. More details are available https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010/codes-practice/code-practice-services-public-functions-and-associations

A comprehensive guide to understanding gender pay gap reporting and how to achieve concrete policy changes on pay, recruitment, training, carers’ policies and other areas that can help to bridge the gap, last updated May 2025.

Comprehensive guide to help branches and reps secure policies and procedures to protect all workers experiencing the menopause.

UNISON reps support members through capability procedures or when they ask for reasonable adjustments to enable them to work. However, many managers can be ignorant of or unsympathetic about reproductive health conditions that affect women and some trans, non-binary and intersex people. For some of our members these health issues will cause particular difficulties at work and may even lead to discriminatory action by employers, so it’s something we need to talk about.

An A5 leaflet outlining UNISON’s support for the WASPI campaign to get a fair transition to the new state pension age for hundreds of thousands of women

In UNISON proportionality is key to our structures and as the majority of members are women public sector workers, it was agreed from the outset that it was essential for these women to be assured that their voices would be heard. This toolkit will help branches to comply with our union’s rules.

This A4 guide sets out UNISON’s views about what can be done by government, and by employers in partnership with trade unions, to prevent violence and end violence against women.

An A4 document outlining why domestic violence and abuse in a trade union issue and including a model agreement between branches and employer. Updated August 2022.

Record of decisions from the 2022 Virtual National Women’s Conference.

A guide for UNISON branches that calls for menstruation dignity for inpatients in a mental health setting. Available as PDF download only.

A recruitment poster aimed at women using the 100 years of votes for women graphic

A factsheet highlighting the mental health problems affecting women and how UNISON will speak up on behalf of our women members experiencing mental health problems in the workplace. A4 leaflet for download only

This guide aims to raise awareness of some of the health issues that women can face among both employers and employees and signposts to organisations that can provide more detailed information and support.

A UNISON guide aimed at helping branches to set up a women’s group.

Women and Pensions. What can you do to get a decent income in retirement? A UNISON briefing.
Updated November 2017

Fair pay now campaign leaflet aimed at women working in local government.

Pregnancy Your rights at work explains your statutory rights as a working woman. Updated May 2017. Available only as a pdf for downloading.

A factsheet highlighting how UNISON supports women members and works with employers to ensure that women’s health concerns and issues are considered at work. A4 leaflet for download only

National Women’s Committee Annual Report 2016/17

An A4 guide for branches on how to deal with harassment and bullying at work. It includes a model ‘dignity at work’ policy.

Booklet for branch activists and members explaining UNISON’s policy on self organisation, including guidelines on branch and regional support and resources.

First comprehensive survey on the position of Women in the Workplace aged 50 and over and the emerging patterns and trends in discrimination being experience by older women in the workplace.

UNISON’s equalities agenda: how UNISON works to build equality into everything we do