ORGANISING WOMEN IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR

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Conference
2011 National Women's Conference
Date
21 October 2010
Decision
Carried

Conference notes with concern the government’s “big society” proposals. Whilst conference agrees that volunteers provide valuable support for many third sector organisations, they cannot and should not be replacing staff in properly financed and resourced public services.

A UNISON report in 2009 found that massive cuts in funding were affecting the ability of community and voluntary sector organisations to keep up with the demand for services, with staff bearing the brunt of poor pay, terms and conditions; increased working hours and job insecurity.

Additionally, there is already evidence that voluntary sector and community projects supporting women will be particularly vulnerable to budget cuts, including women’s advice centres and refuges – the majority of which are also staffed by women.

Conference believes that UNISON shares the concerns and aims of many third sector organisations and that recruiting staff working in that sector into UNISON membership can only be of benefit – to the staff themselves; to our union and to the achievement of our common aims.

Conference therefore calls upon the national women’s committee to work with the UNISON community service group and regional women’s committees to draw up proposals:

1)for a recruitment drive targeted specifically at women working in the sector;

2)to develop and support women members in the sector to become active both within UNISON and the million voices / public works campaigns.