- Conference
- 2025 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 25 February 2025
- Decision
- Carried
We note that UNISON has been at the forefront of fighting for Equal Pay and tackling the Gender Pay Gap. However, the experience in pensions is very different. Government Actuary’s Department statistics indicate that the Gender Pension Gap in England and Wales is 63 percent in the NHS Pension Scheme, and 49 percent in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Research has shown that the reasons behind this gap are varied, but include:
1)Different working patterns (for example taking time off work for caring responsibilities, or working part time);
2)Different earnings (women on average earn less than men);
3)Women being more likely to work in contracted out jobs with poorer pension schemes;
4)Women being more likely to work part time and so earn below the lower threshold for auto-enrolment;
5)How divorce settlements treat pensions.
We believe that women deserve equality in retirement as much as they deserve equality in their working lives, and public employment and public sector pension schemes should be at the forefront of removing this discrimination.
Therefore, we call on the National Executive Council to work with service groups, self organised groups, and Labour Link to:
a)Publicise the existence of the Gender Pensions Gap to members;
b)Campaign for the Gender Pensions Gap injustice to be rectified;
c)Issue materials to members to help educate them about this;
d)Raise this issue with employers;
e)Write to pension schemes covering UNISON members asking them to research and disclose their Gender Pension Gaps.