- Conference
- 2003 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 10 October 2002
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference notes the findings of the 2002 UNISON survey of UNISON representatives which concludes:
1)The typical UNISON steward is 47 years old, male, working full time and has been a steward for nine years.
2)55% of stewards are men compared to 33% of members who are men.
3)7% of stewards work part time compared to 21% of members who work part time.
Conference expresses its concern that UNISON is still failing to fulfil its rule book commitments to proportionality and fair representation particularly at local level usually the starting point for most women activists.
Therefore, this Conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee to work with the National Executive Council to:
a)Ensure that recommendation one of the survey that the union should recruit more women, part time workers, black members and young members as stewards is fully implemented.
b)Issue advice to all UNISON branches reminding them of the rule book commitments to proportionality and fair representation and offer ideas to help branches to fulfil these commitments.
c)Develop education pathways to encourage more women to become stewards, with particular emphasis on developing courses and support systems to give young women the confidence to become active in UNISON.