- Conference
- 2016 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 21 September 2015
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
This Conference believes that sexism in the workplace is still a force to be challenged, and that until it is swept away, women will not achieve equality with men in respect of earnings, status, or power.
This Conference also believes that young women are not only discriminated against through sexism at work, but also on the grounds of their age.
This Conference further believes that the way in which young women are patronised, harassed, and bullied in the workplace only serves to reinforce stereotypes that young workers are of less worth than older workers. This stereotype is actually enshrined in the National Minimum Wage legislation, which prescribes age-related differentials. This has been compounded by the Government’s decision to introduce a further age-related tier of the minimum wage (mis-named the ‘living wage’ as it is set at a level below the accepted Living Wage rate set by the Living Wage Foundation).
This situation is compounded by the continuing disgrace of women being paid less than their male counterparts.
This constitutes a ‘double-whammy’ on earnings for young women.
This conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to:
(i) Survey young women members on their experiences of work as regards equal treatment, and publish the results;
(ii) Use the results to consult with the National Young Members Forum on developing a campaign to raise awareness of, and to challenge, the sexism young women face in the workplace;
(iii) Continue with its support for an end to the age discriminatory bandings in the National Minimum Wage, and for the payment of a real Living Wage.
