Conference has previously noted that: 1)many women members are unaware of the opportunities open to them within UNISON; 2)not all branches are able to establish and maintain women’s groups; 3)women still face discrimination and barriers to involvement in the work of the union. Conference also recognises that Composite A, agreed at National Delegate Conference 2004, […]
Conference motions
More action from both the government and employers is needed to help families balance work and caring responsibilities. the UK has an ageing population, a falling birth rate and increasing family breakdown. These factors, aswell as lesser mobility, leads to a loss of family networks for many. This means that more often women are simultaneously […]
Conference notes that women earn on average 82p for every £1 men earn. That part-time women workers earn 41p for every £1 full time men earn. That women are often segregated into the lowest paid, lowest status, jobs. Conference notes that the gender pay gap and workplace segregation can be attributed in part to the […]
According to UNISON figures, almost a quarter of UNISON reps are not given paid time off and a further fifth only receive one hour or less a week. It is likely that women activists bear the brunt of inadequate facility time because: 1)most facility time agreements are old and have not been adjusted to reflect […]
UNISON members have continuously raised this issue, stating that the current position on part-time workers owing or gaining time off due to pro rata bank holidays is intolerable. As the situation stands, those part-time workers who work the beginning of the week are treated less favourably than those who work the latter, this is especially […]
Conference notes that: 1) following many years of informal discussion and several rounds of formal consultation within the lesbian and gay self-organised group, the 2003 Lesbian and Gay Conference agreed that the UNISON lesbian and gay group should be replaced by a UNISON lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group; 2)the necessary rule change from Lesbian […]
Last year, Conference called for action which would raise the importance of trying to stop breast cancer before it starts. This is about more than having an adequate national screening programme that merely detects a disease which already exists. It is about funding research into why it is that one in every nine women in […]
Conference recognises that eating disorders are the most deadly of all mental illnesses, affecting mostly women and teenage girls, and is among the most difficult to treat. Eating disorders can have severe medical consequences including damaging effects on virtually every organ system including cardiac, reproductive, kidney and musculoskeletal. Suicide is also a major risk factor. […]
Just over 280,000 people in Wales are being treated by their doctor for depression, 195,000 of those are women. These figures are dwarfed by the numbers of people across the UK are are being treated for depression, where three million people are in receipt of doctor support for depression, the overwhelming majority of these are […]
Conference notes the research, conclusions, and recommendations of A Double Disadvantage? Minority Ethnic Women in Trade Unions. The research recommended: 1)mentoring of black activists by more experienced activists and officers – a very important and effective way to learn about the union and to develop skills; 2)support for networking, which is a crucial route into […]
Conference notes with some concern the rising prevalence of employer policies dealing with managing sickness absence. Conference is concerned that these policies are implemented without proper negotiations with branches and, as a consequence, the policies perpetrate discrimination against women. Branches are often not properly trained or equipped to assist women when they are subject to […]
In autumn 2004, the Prime Minister established a Women and Work Commission to look at how men’s and women’s education and skills affect which jobs they can get; promotion and career progression; women’s experiences in the job market, before and after having children and women’s differing experiences of working either full time and part-time. All […]
Conferences notes with concern the current interest in reviewing the law to reduce the time limits for abortions. The decision to have an abortion is a complex one, involving a range of personal, emotional, social and economical considerations. Conference does not believe that any review on the time limits for abortion should be purely based […]
Conference notes that this year’s conference location is Plymouth. Whilst recognising the restrictions on choice for the conference, due to the scale of the event, this meeting states its concerns with the location chosen. Whilst accepting that any location chosen should have a good standard of facilities we are concerned that the remote geographic location […]
It is estimated that one in ten children is a young carer in the UK today, saving the country an estimated £3 million per year. The majority of these children will be caring for their mother or enabling their mother to work by caring for another family member. The majority of young carers are girls. […]