CHALLENGING RACISM DEFENDING PUBLIC SERVICES

Conference notes with deep concern new research by UNISON on the disproportionate impact of public service cuts on Black workers. This research, conducted as part of UNISON’s Challenging Racism in the Workplace and piloted in Greater London in November- December 2011 and results of which were analysed in January 2012 showed that Black women working […]

BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE

The public sector cuts have had an unprecedented impact on women, with increasing numbers accepting redundancy and voluntary early severance. Those women who are left in the workplace are experiencing an increase in stress as work pressures mount and bullying, in its various manifestations increases. This is also affecting vulnerable clients, as our professional members […]

CUBA AS A ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN IN PUBLIC ROLES

Today only twenty two per cent of MPs in the House of Commons and twenty per cent of members of the House of Lords are women. Compare this with Cuba where women hold thirty five per cent of parliamentary seats in the Cuban National Assembly. Therefore Cuba ranks sixth out of one hundred and sixty […]

EQUALITY MONITORING

Conference on 2 September 2011 Eric Pickles, the Secretary for Communities and Local Government new guidance called ‘A fair deal for the community and voluntary sector’. The guidance states councils should not carry out equality questionnaires and use the money saved to fund the community and voluntary sector. They claim that the questions asked about […]

FLEXIBLE WORKING OPTION FOR ALL

Conference notes that despite numerous attempts to ensure that employers have a consistent approach to dealing with flexible working requests, there are still widespread differences. As those most likely to be in caring roles are women, this disadvantages women far more than men. Particularly in these challenging times of financial constraints on employers, it is […]

WOMEN AS CARERS

For many years women have been the main carers within the home for their children, disabled and elderly parents. Women have fought for the right to be recognised and to be treated as equal to men. Many workplaces now have policies in place to enable employees to take time off work to care for their […]

CUTS TO SERVICES AND THE EFFECT ON WOMEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Conference is well aware of the cuts to services all over the UK and those particularly affecting women. Conference however recognises that cuts to services will affect those in rural communities even more acutely. It is acknowledged that services relied upon by those in urban areas, are even more valuable to those living in the […]

A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST THAT COULD SAVE LIVES

Last year’s conference motion on Ovarian Cancer would have been a wake up call to women members unware of the necessity of early detection of ovarian cancer for there to be any reasonable chance of effective treatment. To be told one has cancer is terrifying enough, but for those whose cancers have no immediate symptoms […]

TIME FOR A CHANGE

Conference acknowledges that UNISON publishes some valuable information and guidance material for branches, activists and members on a regular basis and on varying workplace issues and/or recruitment based materials. Yet conference believes that there is not enough UNISON material tailored specifically for women and that the design and format of existing publications for women sometimes […]

VARIABLE AND ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS AND THE THREAT TO WOMEN MEMBERS EMPLOYMENT

Conference will be aware that for some time we have been seeing in the public sector the increase in zero hours or permanent variable hours contracts, the majority of those being placed on such contracts are women. Sunderland Local Authority, in the Northern Region has been using variable contracts as a means of avoiding compulsory […]

WOMEN FRIENDLY WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Every year at National Women’s Conference we come together to debate motions, to listen and learn from each other, develop and set UNISON policy and direction. We debate motions on all sorts of issues that affect the lives and work of women. In recent years for example delegates have debated motions about domestic abuse, about […]

WOMEN IN LIBYA

With the dramatic end of the Gaddafi regime, Libya has the chance for a different future, one that contains real freedoms and liberty for all its citizens and potentially many changes for the lives of Libyan women. Women have been significant in the struggle for a new and free Libya; taking to the streets in […]

LIGHTS OUT

In London 1684-1694 there was an important innovation. This was in the form of public street lighting and was part of a movement across Europe. It was an important innovation because it enabled business, leisure time and daily life to go beyond the confines of daylight hours which was previously bound by a curfew. Having […]

FUTURE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AFFECTING WOMEN

Each year European and UK parliament bring legislative changes forward for consultation and debate. Many of these consultations and legislative changes are not well publicised and it is often by default that women become aware of these forthcoming changes. This conference believes that the more information about proposed legislative changes that can be given to […]

ACKNOWLEDGING AND SUPPORTING WOMEN ACTIVISTS IN THE ARAB SPRING

It is a sad truth that opportunities for capitalising on the success of union activity within the recent Arab uprisings have mostly been missed by the mainstream press. Some of you may have read, in tiny snippets, or in specialist media that unions have been a powerful element in generating the Arab Spring. In some […]