Making our women history

As we look back over a year of celebrating women’s suffrage and some women gaining the right to vote, it has become all too apparent that our women, working class women are rarely recognised or documented in history. The celebrations we have been part of has been brilliant for raising awareness of the difference women […]

Period Pain

Periods are a fact of life for women everywhere, yet they are still by many regarded as a stigma which cannot be discussed, and which women should just endure quietly without inconveniencing anyone. While some women suffer only mild symptoms many suffer severe debilitating pain and cramps every month. Ahead of International Day of the […]

Time to talk about menstrual health

Issues surrounding menstrual health and the impact on the working lives of women are largely hidden from society. Research conducted by YouGov finds that 91% of women have experienced period pain at some point in their working life. 57% of women in employment suffering from period pain say that it has affected their ability to […]

Call it out! Supporting young women to challenge workplace sexual harassment

#MeToo has transformed the debate around sexual harassment, with cases being reported in the media more than ever before. UNISON needs to ensure that the voices of working women are highlighted in the #MeToo debate, and that young women know UNISON can support them in cases of sexual harassment. The Young Women’s Trust found in […]

Caring About Women Carers in the workplace

This Conference Notes that: It is recognised that the role of women in society has changed dramatically because the changes to The State Pension Age has forced most women to continue working for an extra 6 years. Statistics show that around 3.34 million women are carers and many women find themselves having caring responsibilities for […]

Abortion Clinic Buffer Zones

This conference notes 1)UNISON’s position in recognising a women’s right to choose. 2)The decision to terminate a pregnancy is a difficult one for a woman. 3)That women often face protests outside clinics and hospitals when seeking an abortion. Furthermore this conference notes that: Despite the Abortion Clinic Review undertaken by the Home Office identifying at […]

Organising Against the Odds

Last year’s women’s conference agreed that organising among low paid women should be a union priority. It was shown that shockingly more than half of UNISONs women members meet the criteria of being classed as low paid. Conference discussed the fact that fragmented workforces are often blamed as to why organising amongst this group of […]

Support the Backto60.com Campaign

Under the 1995 Pensions Act a timetable was drawn up to equalise the age at which men and women could draw the state pension. In the 2011 Pensions Act the new qualifying age of 65 for women was brought forward to 2018, a move that has seen 3.9 million 1950’s women lose out. The 2011 […]

Miscarriage is not an illness

For every woman pregnancy is the start of a new chapter full of emotional ups and downs. Making plans for the future as a family, the excitement and anticipation of waiting for the pitter patter of tiny feet. Whether this is their first pregnancy or not, all women will be anxious until their baby is […]

End Discrimination in State Reciprocal Pension Arrangements for Black women

Conference is seriously concerned that Black women workers face a triple whammy of discrimination in the Labour market, • disadvantage in getting decent and well paid jobs • destitution in retirement caused by low pay, an ethnic and racial pay gap • lack of access to good occupational pensions, This is additionally heightened if you […]

Black women in senior positions in the workplace – Breaking the barriers

Conference believes that Black women are still hugely under-represented in senior roles at work. Research has shown that positions of power in every sector of society are dominated by men. Research conducted by Operation Black Vote and the Guardian newspaper found that only 3.5% of Black people are at the top of UK’s leading 1000 […]

Campaigning for Safety within the Social Care Workforce

CAMPAIGNING FOR SAFETY WITHIN THE SOCIAL CARE WORKFORCE Conference notes that women make up over 3/4 of the Health and Social Care Workforce, with an even larger proportion of women directly delivering care to service users within a home care environment. The experiences of nurses and care workers who provide health and social care at […]

Educational exclusion and the disproportionate impact on girls

Throughout the country there has been a massive rise in permanent exclusions and children being educated at home. Recent figures show a national increase of 300% in permanent exclusions in 2017. The Department of Education’s report on permanent and fixed term exclusions published in 2016/17 stated that some secondary schools are excluding up to 20% […]

SHOW TRANSPHOBIA THE RED CARD

Conference, we are deeply disturbed by the rise in transphobia towards trans women during and following the recent consultation regarding the Gender Recognition Act (GRA). Whilst we recognise everyone is entitled to their own view, hate must not infiltrate our union. Conference welcomes the UNISON stance of supporting self-identification, but much work is still needed […]

Domestic Violence – Time for UNISON to Take Action

Ever week more than two women are killed by current or ex-partners and figures are sadly rising. Currently one in four women in the UK will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. All research indicates that in an economic recession, domestic violence and abuse increases yet meanwhile the Government imposed austerity cuts […]