- Conference
- 2010 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 15 October 2009
- Decision
- Carried
Conference is concerned that many of our women members who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not know what help and support they are entitled to.
Breast cancer can cause many problems, apart from the obvious health issues.
It is time that we started to recognise the true cost of breast cancer and all the far reaching implications this disease has for women.
As a union, we are the best when it comes to promoting, campaigning and supporting the many worthwhile charities which focus on breast cancer and breast cancer research, but which often fail to highlight the true cost :
1)the financial losses
2)the job losses
3)the loss of the roof over their head
4)the break up of the family unit
to name but a few.
It is time we recognised that our women members are suffering genuine hardship when facing breast cancer and undergoing treatment for this devastating disease.
In order to assist our women members who are diagnosed with breast cancer, this conference calls upon the national women’s committee to :
a)work with other relevant bodies, including regional women’s committees, the NEC, NDMC and service groups, to ensure that women members and activists are aware of the rights of those women with breast cancer with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act and, in particular, disability leave and the requirement for reasonable adjustments;
b)liaise with Learning and Organising Services (LAOS) to ensure that the relevant training is provided to enable negotiators to actively negotiate disability leave with employers;
c)work with other branch officers such as welfare officers to ensure that the economic burden of this diagnosis is reduced with women aware of any benefits they are entitled to claim, and that the excellent services provided by UNISON Welfare are used.