- Conference
- 2019 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 24 October 2018
- Decision
- Carried
Issues surrounding menstrual health and the impact on the working lives of women are largely hidden from society.
Research conducted by YouGov finds that 91% of women have experienced period pain at some point in their working life. 57% of women in employment suffering from period pain say that it has affected their ability to work: affecting their concentration, physical ability to do the job, or even resulting in going home early.
Yet the stigma surrounding menstrual health means that women are unlikely to tell their employer about it. Only a quarter (27%) of women experiencing period pain at work said that they told their employer about it.
Young women often lack the confidence to raise it as an issue. Feminax found that over 80% of young British women suffer from period pains, and 10% of young women regularly being bedridden by severe pain.
While period poverty remains a serious issue, no union has led the way in challenging employment practices to ensure that women are supported when dealing with period pain. It is also vital that young women are given the confidence and empowered to raise the issue of their menstrual health with employers. By leading on this area, UNISON would position itself as a union that is relevant to the lives of young women.
Countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia, have progressive laws that enable women to take time off for period pain.
We need to be radical and push for progress. From raising awareness of the impact of period pain on young women at work, to campaigning and bargaining for policies that support young women – we must lead the way.
This Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to:
• Work with the National Young Member’s Forum to develop an awareness campaign, aimed at young women in UNISON
• Work with appropriate bodies within UNISON to conduct research of young women in UNISON and the impact of period pain on their work, in order to develop toolkits for branches that are reflective of the different sectors we represent
• Work with LabourLink to raise with the Labour Party the issues surrounding menstrual health and work.
• Liaise with Bargaining Support in order to develop bargaining advice on this issue.