Maternity, Paternity and Flexible Working

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Conference
2003 National Women's Conference
Date
10 October 2002
Decision
Carried

This Conference welcomes the Government’s new legislation to improve the rights of working parents from April 2003 in particular:

1)The increase in basic maternity leave from 18 weeks to 26 weeks.

2)The increase in Statutory Maternity Pay from £75 to £100.

3)The introduction of paid paternity leave.

4)The introduction of statutory paid adoption leave.

5)The right to request flexible working.

However, Conference recognises that more could still be done to improve the lives of working parents and their children.

Therefore, this Conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee to work with the National Executive Council and the National Affiliated Political Fund Committee to:

a) Publicise the new parental rights throughout UNISON.

b) Organise training for activists and staff on the new provisions.

c) Work with Maternity Alliance to develop publicity and training.

d) Continue to lobby Government for further improvement to parental rights.

e) Encourage branches to use the new rights as a platform to negotiate

enhancements to employers’ maternity and paternity policies.