- Conference
- 2016 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 14 October 2015
- Decision
- Carried
This conference notes
That key research published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in July 2015, Pregnancy and Maternity Related Discrimination and Disadvantage highlighted ongoing problems for pregnant women in the workplace, for example it discovered of the women surveyed:
• One in 9 mothers were dismissed or made compulsorily redundant whilst others were not.
• One in 5 mothers experienced harassment related to pregnancy or flexible working
• 10% of mothers were discouraged from attending ante natal appointments by their employers.
• One in three felt unsupported by their employer at some point while pregnant or returning to work.
• Nearly three in 10 said they were not allowed the flexibility they had requested during pregnancy in term of hours (29%), start times (24%) or additional breaks (28%).
Furthermore the Fawcett Society has expressed concern that the introduction of employment tribunal fees has reduced in particular low paid women’s access to justice to challenge maternity discrimination.
Therefore the conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee to
1)Continue to highlight the rights of women whilst pregnant and on their return to work.
2)Work with the NEC to continue UNISON’s campaign to end employment tribunal fees in the interest of all women members.
3)Work with the NEC to enable women members with potential pregnancy related discrimination cases to achieve easier and speedier access to advice and support.
