- Conference
- 2026 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 15 October 2025
- Decision
- Carried
Conference, it is time to campaign for the adoption of the Real Living Wage for all women workers, and to oppose wage cuts that disproportionately affect women.
Women workers, particularly those in low-paid, part-time, and frontline roles, continue to bear the brunt of public sector cuts and wage stagnation. These challenges are compounded by the cost-of-living crisis and austerity-driven policies, which deepen systemic barriers to fair pay, financial security, and career progression.
Women workers are 50% more likely to be paid less than the Real Living Wage, compounding the cost-of-living crisis and contributing to increased financial stress and poor mental health. Many employers have yet to adopt the Real Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, leaving women workers vulnerable to poverty pay and insecure employment. This undermines efforts to promote equality and dignity at work and highlights the urgent need for employers to take responsibility for fair pay practices.
Conference believes that UNISON must continue to champion economic justice for women workers by campaigning for the Real Living Wage across all sectors.
Taking action will strengthen UNISON’s commitment to gender pay justice and help build solidarity among women workers and the wider community.
Conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee to:
1.Work with Labour Link to campaign and lobby for robust policies that protect women workers from wage cuts and promote pay equity, and to support initiatives that raise awareness of the economic challenges faced by women workers.
2.Produce guidance to branches on how to lobby employers, local authorities, and communities to raise awareness of the impact of low pay and to encourage employers to obtain official accreditation through the Living Wage Foundation.
Citation: Living Wage Foundation analysis of Survation polling of 2,000 UK workers aged 18+ in July and August 2024.
