- Conference
- 2017 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 12 October 2016
- Decision
- Carried
Conference is concerned at the continuation of Britain’s bus services being depleted and congratulates Unison for supporting Campaign for Better Transport in their campaigning efforts to improve Britain’s public transport services and applauds the support from the General Political Fund for research into this subject.
Buses are the most flexible form of public transport – yet they receive far lower subsidies than rail services do. Bus services are being cut and disappearing at an alarming rate but because millionaire cabinet members have probably never caught one in their lives, buses are not afforded the importance that they should receive.
Buses are statistically used more by women than men –
Women are responsible for more care work in the family so take children and dependent adults for medical appointments –
– Take children to/from school
– Shop
– Socialise
– College for personal or career development
– work
Conference is disappointed that the Buses Bill, due to be passed February 2017 does nothing definite to halt these service cuts.
This is leading to:
1) increased social isolation amongst poorer and older women (with the danger of increased mental health issues),
2) Pollution through congestion as more and more cars are on the road in turn impacting on the health of women and children
3) Less choice and integration of services for women public transport users.
All linked in with an ever worsening image of bus travel.
Conference supports the Unison position that Transport should be under public control to provide a sustainable, green, integrated affordable service for all.
Bus travel should not be the Cinderella service of Transport at the mercy of how much an authority wants or can afford to spend on services to keep rural, evening and weekend services.
Conference asks the National Women’s Committee to work with appropriate bodies within and outside Unison to campaign for decent bus services regardless of postcode and more government funding (to the equivalent spent on rail travel) to keep these vital links for women and their families.