- Conference
- 2026 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 15 October 2025
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes that digital technology is increasingly used in all areas of the workplace from HR systems and e-learning to rota management, payslips, communication tools, and performance monitoring. Staff in lower-paid, part-time, shift-based, or frontline roles, such as, cleaning, catering, and other manual roles are often excluded from digital systems or not provided with adequate access, training, or support.
Digital exclusion disproportionately affects women workers, especially; older women; women with caring responsibilities; disabled women; women whose first language is not English and staff in insecure or agency work. This lack of access to digital tools can mean that women are missing out on vital workplace information, training, progression opportunities, and the ability to fully participate in union activity.
Digital inequality is a growing form of structural disadvantage and risks further entrenching gender and class inequalities. Digital inclusion is an equality issue and must be treated as such by employers and trade unions alike. Access to digital systems, training, and communication must be fair, inclusive, and accessible to all staff, regardless of grade, role, or location.
UNISON has a vital role to play in challenging digital exclusion so that our members are not left behind in increasingly digital workplaces.
We call on the National Women’s Committee to:
1)Work with the NEC and service groups to campaign for digital inclusion as a workplace equality priority.
2)Produce guidance for branches to bargain for fair access to workplace technology and digital systems and ensure all staff receive paid time and training to develop digital skills.
3)Campaign for employers to carry out Equality Impact Assessments on all digital workplace changes, with a focus on women in low-paid or non-office-based roles.
4)Work with LAOS to provide training and support for reps to recognise and challenge digital exclusion in their workplaces.
5)Encourage the wider union to adopt inclusive digital practices in its own communications, organising, and events, ensuring members without regular digital access are not excluded from participation.
