- Conference
- 2025 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 17 October 2024
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
The Centre for Progressive Policy reported that the UK’s fertility rate has declined by 18.8% falling faster (2010 to 2022) than any other of the G7 countries. This means that the statistical average of 1.49 children per woman in the UK. Whilst the conclusion points to the main reason as austerity policies, there are many other reasons behind this statistic. The lack of good maternity and childcare provision is a contributing factor. What is clear is that our current maternity and childcare provision needs to be radically improved.
Conference notes that UNISON’s work with Maternity Action has revealed that the issues faced by pregnant workers and new mothers on maternity leave is because the maternity pay and benefits, they receive is inadequate.
For too many of our women workers the decision to have a child or children is now extremely difficult. This means that we have less choice due to the economics and practicalities of having a family life. This is an issue that affects our lives now and our future generations. If we have a shrinking population, we have less workers in the future, less tax income and resulting issues for public finances. Our women workers need to be supported better in terms of maternity provision and childcare if we are to flourish as a society.
Conference calls upon the Women’s Committee to:
1)Work with Branches, Regions, and Self Organised Groups to highlight the desperate need for better maternity and childcare provision across the four nations.
2. To produce guidance that can help Branches in their campaigning and negotiating work to improve workplace maternity benefits and flexible working practices to help with childcare issues. Either by way of a published hard copy document or electronic copy.
3. Continue to work with Maternity Action on all issues affecting pregnant workers and new mothers.