- Conference
- 2010 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 15 October 2009
- Decision
- Carried
National women’s conference welcomes the Million Voices campaign.
From healthcare to education, nursery and maternity provision, public transport, social care, recreation, parks and playgrounds, unquestionably it is women who are both the majority users of and providers of our public services.
But during the last year we have seen more and more how the recession has impacted on women’s lives, and how “business as usual” economic decisions can and do exclude women’s needs.
Women are experiencing first-hand how inadequate public spending impacts on women as low paid carers and as workers in other areas which are often disproportionately affected by cuts.
We cannot afford to allow the “powers that be” to use the recession as an excuse for not making progress, particularly in taking the action needed to close the gender pay gap.
Conference calls upon the national women’s committee to:
1)work with relevant bodies in UNISON to gather evidence of the impact of the recession on women’s lives, and use that evidence in campaigning against the threatened cuts in services, terms and conditions;
2)work with the NEC and other relevant bodies in order to maintain the momentum of this important campaign, and to ensure that women’s voices and women’s needs are at the forefront of the campaign;
3)encourage regional women’s committees to work with branch women’s groups in building women’s connections and women’s networks, and in supporting branches to be active locally in raising awareness in their communities.