In a keynote speech to more than 700 delegates at UNISON’s national women’s conference in Southport today (Friday), general secretary Dave Prentis willurge women to use their vote and have their say in May.
Dave will say: “We’re in the midst of the closest election in living memory – even hardened political pundits say the result is too close to call.
“With everything to play for, the attention between now and polling day will be on 100 or so key marginal seats – as it’s here that the election will be won.
“Many of these target seats are here in the North West – in places like Lancaster and Fleetwood, Pendle, and Wirral West, where the votes of UNISON’s women members could prove crucial in determining who gets the keys to Number 10.
“Many women voters are as yet undecided and with everything to play for, those living in key marginals will be targeted by politicians of every political persuasion – sometimes in a pink campaign bus!
“But aside from the debate around magenta, cerise and Barbie pink lies a much more serious issue. Last time around in 2010, more than 9m women didn’t turn out to vote.
“And five years on – with the election just 83 days away – many women have yet to get themselves on the electoral register.
“Unregistered women voters risk having no voice and no say over who wins in May. But it’s not too late, there is still time, but the deadline to register is not much more than two months away.
“And why is it so crucial that women have a say on 7 May? The reason is simple. Over the past five years the growing crisis in our communities has hit women the hardest. Cuts in tax credits are costing women four times as much as men. The child benefit freeze, five times as much and cuts in childcare support, seven times as much.
“In Britain, there are women fleeing domestic violence who cannot find the financial support to stay in a women’s refuge thanks to the government’s spending cuts.
“Pregnant women are being forced into shared accommodation with their newborn children because new housing rules say they cannot be housed until the child is born.
“The NHS is changing – and things aren’t getting any better. There are fewer staff, longer waiting lists for treatments, now ambulances can’t cope with the demand. We’ve got hospitals in crisis, A&E departments missing targets and not enough beds for patients.
“It is disgraceful that the gender gap is widening again after painfully slow progress over the past 40 years. There are a huge number of women workers who desperately want and need to work full-time but are forced to take part-time jobs – or declare themselves self-employed – just so they can make ends meet.
“And if this wasn’t enough, low-paid workers are now expected to pay employment tribunal fees if they have been treated unfairly at work.
“As a result, race discrimination claims are down 61 per cent, disability discrimination cases 63 per cent, and, most shockingly of all, sex discrimination claims have plummeted 91 per cent. And don’t think for one minute that this is because employers have stopped discriminating against their female employees!
“Let’s not forget that unions are the voice of working people. They stand up to the powerful and challenge discrimination, and negotiate for fairness in workplaces across the country.
“It is our services, your jobs, a future for our young people and our communities that are at stake in this election. Your vote is crucial.
“If you care about the NHS, vote for it. If you care about public services, vote for them. If you care about decent pay and jobs make sure that you use your vote, and use it wisely.”
Notes to editors:
The conference is taking place at UNISON at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre between from Wednesday 12 – Saturday 14 February 2015.
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