“Women have been hit three times as hard by cuts,” even though “they own less and earn less,” said Angela Eagle MP, when she addressed UNISON’s women’s conference in Liverpool this afternoon.
She said that, of the £1.1bn of extra cuts announced in the last autumn statement, £870m will come from women.
And she wasn’t surprised that “the government forgot to do an equality audit on their first budget,” as it’s a government with “three times more men than women.”
She called on UNISON members to “get involved and help us shape the next manifesto.”
Ms Eagle was followed by delegate after delegate speaking of the impact of public service and benefit cuts on women.
“This government has a real problem with women,” said Margaret McKee, “and we are paying the price of this government’s economic failure.”
And as for rising employment? “It’s all a mirage,” she said “they’re all zero-hours contracts.”
Paulette White from Wolverhampton said that, where she worked, “terms and conditions have been cut – this will predominantly affect women who are low-paid workers in the care sector.”
Many delegates spoke of the increasing use of food banks. Carol Dunk of Bassetlaw, who volunteers for a local food bank, urged UNISON to promote them and help members access them.
