- Conference
- 2005 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 19 October 2004
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference recognises the excellent work done by the National Young Members’ Forum, many branches and colleagues in recruiting young members. Young women, juggling a career, caring responsibilities and further training, often on a low wage, require extra encouragement and support to become active in UNISON.
In addition, Conference recognises and appreciates UNISON’s ability to deliver training and education courses at no cost to the member who undertakes the course. Many of these courses are relevant to young women. Conference believes that the opportunity for young women to benefit from such courses is an additional incentive in their recruitment and in encouraging them to be active.
If you look at current activists, many are over 35 and the influence of the Thatcher years on attitudes to trade unions lingers on.
Conference asks that the National Women’s Committee:
1)work with the National Young Members’ Forum to collate and disseminate examples of branch good practice in encouraging young women to become active;
2)considers means of highlighting the financial support available to union activists;
3)work with the National Education and Training Committee to ensure that access to education and training is properly seen as a benefit that encourages young women to become members and to be active members.
Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to:
a)prioritise these actions;
b)encourage established activists to invest time in mentoring and encouraging young women into becoming active.