- Conference
- Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual & Transgender Conference 2005
- Date
- 29 July 2005
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference welcomes the provision for statutory paternity leave but notes with concern the low level of take up.
Conference considers this is explained by:
1.The level of statutory paternity pay, currently a maximum of £106.00 per week;
2.Limited eligibility – restricted to the baby’s father or the partner of a woman on maternity leave; and,
3.The confusing title – a lesbian partner may not realise she is entitled to “paternity leave”.
Conference therefore considers that:
A.The term “statutory maternity support leave” should replace “statutory paternity leave”;
B.Eligibility should extend to whoever the mother nominates to support her around the time of the birth; and,
C.Statutory Maternity Support Pay should be set at the level of the individual’s normal take-home pay.
Conference notes that various collective agreements already make provisions similar to A – C above, a collective bargaining achievement by UNISON following a lesbian-led campaign within the union. But here too there is anecdotal evidence of little awareness of the contractual entitlement and low take-up.
Conference therefore instructs the National LGBT Committee to raise with the National Executive Council the need to:
I.Mount a campaign for Statutory Maternity Support Leave and an adequate level of Statutory Maternity Support Pay; and,
II.Promote awareness among members of existing contractual entitlements to Maternity Support Leave and Pay and to negotiate improvements.