- Conference
- 2006 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 26 October 2005
- Decision
- Carried
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 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 notes in particular that the present statutory arrangements exclude some of the most vulnerable nursing mothers, including unemployed women and young women under the age of 16.
Conference therefore considers that:
a)the term “statutory maternity support leave” should replace “statutory paternity leave”;
b)eligibility should extend to whoever a mother, any 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 further notes that various collective agreements already make provisions similar to a) – c) above but here too there is evidence of little awareness and low take-up.
Conference therefore instructs the National Women’s Committee to:
i)mount a campaign for statutory maternity support leave and an adequate level of statutory maternity support pay, and
ii)promote awareness among UNISON members of existing contractual entitlements.