Delegates backed calls for further measures to build equality for women at UNISON’s local government conference in Liverpool this afternoon, as it debated the question in a motion putting forward a ‘gender agenda’.
Manjula Kamari from the national women’s committee told conference that it would not be surprised to hear that the majority of public service workers are women or that they are the majority of those on the lowest pay – and those most likely to be facing redundancy.
She stressed that the motion’s call for a “gender agenda” was simply intended to “level the playing field”.
For the executive, Jackie Fleming said that local government is an “effective arena” for promoting equality and women’s rights. She reminded delegates that women are still paid less than men in general.
Another delegate, illustrating the state of pay as against the rising cost of living, noted that, “as woman, I love chocolate.
“And in 1971, I could buy a Mars Bar for 3p and now it’s 71. I am distraught!”
Rena Wood from the north west urged delegates to consider the statistics, which show not only the levels of low pay, but also how the majority of those on low pay are women.
Several speakers stressed the additional difficulties that women workers face – particularly in terms of caring responsibilities.
Nikki McDermott from Northern Ireland reported on how cuts in education are particularly impacting on women workers, and welcomed the call for recruitment of part-time workers to the union.
Conference agreed to a number of measures, with a particularly strong call for the executive to “continue to purse the gender agenda in local government pay negotiations”.
An earlier motion also saw delegates back a plan to ensure that the representation of low-paid women workers on the national joint council is in keeping with the union’s rules and values.
