Conference notes: a)Many Black disabled women are not only managing their own impairments but also have significant caring responsibilities including for children, elderly relatives, or other disabled family members. b)These dual roles often lead to increased isolation, stress, and barriers to accessing employment, healthcare, social support, and full participation in UNISON. c)Black disabled women carers […]
Conference motions
The Women of the North Report of 2024, published by Health Equity North stated that: • Employment rates for women in the North are lower than the 72% national average; they are 69.8% in the North East, 71.2% in the North West, and 70.8% in Yorkshire and the Humber. • Rates of economic inactivity among […]
Conference notes that while women make up the majority of UNISON’s membership, this is not always reflected in positions of leadership and decision-making at all levels of the union. Barriers such as lack of confidence, limited access to training, caring responsibilities, and systemic inequality continue to prevent many women from progressing into roles where they […]
Conference notes that many women members are lone workers and they often feel at risk especially at nights or in isolated situations, including when travelling to and from work. Women work shift patterns that require them to travel in the dark, they open and close buildings, visit service users homes in isolated locations and in […]
Conference notes with concern the recent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) interim guidance which risks creating confusion and division around the rights of women, particularly in workplaces. This guidance has recently been taken down from their website, however many workplaces have already started to implement its guidelines. While the guidance was presented as clarification […]
Conference notes that most women and people who menstruate will find that this affects their work at some point. For some people, this can be occasional pain and discomfort, for others, this can be more debilitating or chronic, including conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Conference also […]
Conference notes: 1)Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women in the UK, with over 7,000 women diagnosed each year. 2)Early diagnosis is critical — when caught in the early stages, 9 in 10 women survive. Yet, due to vague symptoms and lack of awareness, around two-thirds of cases are diagnosed late, often […]
This Conference notes: • That UNISON has existing policy in favour of decriminalising abortion • The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill in June 2025 meaning that in England, Scotland and Wales, people will no longer be prosecuted for ending a pregnancy within the legal framework • However, abortion is still a crime in […]
Conference notes that in the current climate of growing division, many UNISON members, especially women members, are growing increasingly anxious about their own safety and security in the world of work. A recent Guardian article reported that social care workers are being advised to travel to work in mixed-race groups and to carry panic alarms, […]
Conference notes that we face a steady rise of right-wing political parties, ideologies and movements across the globe, which leads to significant detrimental impacts on Black, LGBT+, disabled people and women and the struggle for equality. The combination of ideological stances, policy priorities, and the broader social and economic effects of far-right governance all have […]
Conference notes: There is still gender inequality affecting our women members in a number of areas according to latest research including the following: Economic ? Gender Pay Gap: While the gap has narrowed, women still earn less than men, with the overall gap in median hourly pay for full-time employees being 7.0% in April 2024. […]
Conference notes: Period poverty is on the rise, with an estimated 2.8 million people affected. We know that good menstruation health is important and is a valuable marker for overall health. It’s no secret to us women and people who menstruate that we can sometimes feel shame about menstruation, and the stigma about periods prevents […]
Conference: The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming workplaces, reshaping the workforce, changing the way services are delivered. This poses a threat to jobs where employers can use AI to replace employees rather than aid productivity. Many of these jobs in admin, clerical and customer service will be filled by workers who are […]
This conference fully recognises that the increasing numbers of cases of coercive and controlling behaviour is a national shame. We as a movement need to call out this behaviour and work to engage all our women members help take steps to eradicate this abuse. It is so desperately sad that for some of our women […]
Conference, it is known that the hormones that control your menstrual cycle can affect the neurotransmitter functions responsible for serotonin levels, a brain chemical that promotes feelings of well-being. When going through the peri or full menopause your oestrogen and progesterone levels drop, serotonin levels can also be affected which can contribute to depression, anxiety […]