- Conference
- 2008 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 25 October 2007
- Decision
- Carried
This conference notes that it is some 120 years since the inaugural meeting in the Union of Women Match Makers was held in July 27 1988, and 90 years since women over 30 and married women were given the right to vote and that Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act allowed women to be elected as members of Parliament.
We also note that it is over 80 years since the Equal Franchise Act gave women the right to vote on equal terms as men.
In 1998 legislation to introduce the National Minimum Wage was passed. Women were the main beneficiaries.
This conference notes the long journey that it has been to obtain the right to vote, the right to be educated and the right to be paid a decent living wage. We know that we still have battles ahead of us but these can only be won by engaging with all our women members, giving them voices and hearing their voices.
However, we also note the low level of voter turn out in internal UNISON elections and political elections and the still disproportionate number of women in positions of authority within the lay member structures.
We believe that we need to engage with our women members in 2008 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Universal Suffrage and remind us of the battles and sacrifices that the sisters of previous generations undertook to ensure that we were given the right to vote – the right to participate.
We ask that the National Women’s Committee (NWC):
1)Produces publicity materials around the anniversary with a view to assisting regions to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Universal Suffrage.
2)That the NWC requests Labour Link for support in this matter
3)That the NWC assists Regional Women’s Committees in developing any links to partner organizations that may wish to celebrate this anniversary – such as regional TUC and regional women’s groups and organization.