This conference believes that the Government’s decision to raise the Local Housing Allowance shared accommodation rate to 35 year olds was not subject to equality impact testing. It is well documented that women earn less than men and therefore find it harder to afford private sector rents. With the changes to eligibility for the 1 […]
Conference motions
Conference believes that, despite the continued existence of discrimination against women and the barriers to women’s participation at all levels of society, women are continuing to make progress in taking up leadership roles. Conference further believes this is important in not only challenging the predominance of male power in our society, but also in providing […]
Conference notes that affordable child care was one of the main issues raised by the young women members’ caucus at national young members weekend 2013. Conference believes that affordable child care is essential if parents and those with parenting responsibilities, and in particular women, are to be effectively enabled to have access to full working […]
Conference notes that social work is a profession dominated by women. Social work is a gendered activity, in terms of both its workforce and client group and it is well documented that more women than men enter this area of work (‘Gender at Work: Characteristics of ‘Failing’ Social Work Students’. Sheila Furness. Division of Social […]
In light of the recent United Nations evidence on the growing prevalence and impact of violence against women here and throughout the world, Council expresses extreme regret that UNISON NDC Conference 2013 defeated an amendment calling for women to be assumed to be telling the truth when they report abuse. Conference calls on the National […]
Conference recalls the 2012 Women’s conference resolution “Our tradition is equality and human rights”, which expressed concern that the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council had adopted a Russian resolution linking human rights to ‘traditional values’. It recognised that Russia was attempting to block progress on women’s rights and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) […]
Conference notes that Bisexual Visibility Day has been marked on the 23rd September since 1999. Bisexual Visibility Day is a day in which the bisexual community, their friends and supporters recognise and celebrate bisexuality, but the day is not acknowledged by many. Quite often bisexual women face biphobia not only from heterosexuals, but from the […]
Lulled by the soft sell and the hidden persuader, the average woman is seldom aware of the deadly materials with which she is surrounding herself, indeed she may not realise she is using them at all. This is a quote by Rachel Carson in 1962 and this still applies today, some 50 years later. Women […]
This Conference is concerned at the growing number of zero hour contracts that are being forced onto a desperate workforce. Conference believes that a disproportionate number of women in public services are increasingly being subjected to these types of contracts. The Coalition Government and private sector claim that zero hour contracts offer both the employer […]
This conference believes that the Government’s austerity measures are purely an attack on the working class and that women are more likely to be feeling the detrimental impact of any Welfare Reform. Women rely more on tax credit and benefits than men, in particular due to their caring responsibilities, relative economic inequalities and poverty. According […]
Conference notes that Black women are disproportionately bearing the brunt of this government’s austerity measures. More Black women are being condemned to living in poverty in the midst of these cuts and to a higher rate of unemployment than white women. According to the latest Labour Force Survey statistics, the employment rate of Black women […]
Conference congratulates the local government service group on the work they are doing to improve working conditions for home care workers, and the production of the Ethical Care Charter. The issues facing these workers are well recognised – low pay, unpaid hours, unpaid travel time, unpaid sickness absence, unrealistic mileage rates, short client visits etc. […]
Conference is proud of Unison’s commitment to lifelong learning and education for all. It is particularly proud of the selection of Unison course which provides women with an opportunity to learn in a safe and supportive environment; allowing women to return to the classroom where this opportunity may not otherwise have been afforded and increasing […]
Conference notes that at national delegate conference 2013, an amendment to the national women’s committee motion on UNISON women, active, campaigning, leading, was debated and lost. That amendment stated: “We believe that our trade union has the potential to transform society for the better. Therefore we have a particular responsibility to confront and challenge male […]
This conference notes The cuts across the public services are having a detrimental effect on women lives and the lives of their families. The UK is the sixth richest economy in the world and yet more than one in five people live below the poverty line. Women whether single or in relationships are more likely […]