A WOMEN’S PAPER FOR WOMEN’S ORGANISATION

This conference notes that other Self Organised Groups have dedicated newsletters/publications yet none exist for Women in UNISON. Whilst we note that we are the majority in terms of membership we feel that this is not reflected in UNISON publications such as Focus. We therefore request that the National Women’s Committee prepares a report for […]

MOVING ON UP REPORT: BANGLADESHI, PAKISTANI AND CARIBBEAN WOMEN AT WORK

Conference notes the ‘Moving On up’ report published by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) IN March 2007 which found that Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi girls obtain better GCSE grades , including Maths and English than white British boys. Yet Caribbean, Bangladeshi and Pakistani women graduates seeking work are five times more likely to be unemployed […]

A MILLION WOMEN IN THE UNION – A MILLION WORKERS RISE AGAINST VIOLENCE

This conference notes that the experience, threat or fear of men’s violence affects the lives of women and girls everywhere, cutting across boundaries of wealth, race and culture. Violence against women is both a cause and consequence of continued inequality and discrimination. States continue to fail to meet a due diligent standard to prevent violence […]

HOW WIDE IS THE POWER GAP FOR BLACK WOMEN

Black women face obstacles in accessing power – from the grassroots to the Government. They are severely under-represented in senior and governance positions across the public, private and voluntary sectors. At the current pace of change, it will be more than the three centuries before the seats of Parliament reflect Britain’s population of ethnic minority […]

CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT A LEGAL DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

Conference applauds the decision last year to forward Motion 9 ‘Definition of Violence against Women’ to National Conference and we thank the National Women’s Committee for their work in taking forward the work contained in last year’s motion. Sadly, we were all reminded in August 2007, how our legal system fails women. On 24th August […]

VOTES FOR WOMEN – A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN ACTIVISTS

This conference notes that it is some 120 years since the inaugural meeting in the Union of Women Match Makers was held in July 27 1988, and 90 years since women over 30 and married women were given the right to vote and that Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act allowed women to be elected as […]

MOVING ON UP REPORT: BANGLADESHI, CARIBBEAN AND PAKISTANI WOMEN AND WORK

Conference welcomes the report Moving on Up published by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in March 2007 which found that Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani girls obtain better GCSE grades, including Maths and English than white British boys. Yet graduate Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani women seeking work are five times more likely to be unemployed than […]

SUPPORTING THE WOMEN OF BURMA

This conference resolves to support the women of Burma who are risking imprisonment, beatings and death from their government in their struggle for democratic change in their country. After the 1988 uprising, thousands of Burmese men were killed, imprisoned or forced to flee the country. Women took a stand to combat oppression and promote democracy. […]

DELEGATES TO NATIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

The Cymru/Wales Region welcomes the changes to the way in which delegates are nominated to National Women’s Conference based upon the number of women members by branch. This change agreed by the NEC will hopefully allow more women to participate and encourage women activists locally, regionally and nationally. It is important that this change is […]

MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS – PRE-CONFERENCE PROCEDURE

Standing Order 3.2 Amend first sentence to read “Each branch and regional women’s group, other national self-organised groups and the National Young Members’ Forum may submit motions, amendments to motions and amendments to Standing Orders.” Delete second sentence.

SEXISM IN THE CITY

London’s square mile is one of the most economically prosperous areas in the world. But behind that success lies a hidden story of disadvantage and discrimination affecting women at all levels – a story which is replicated in cities all across the UK, both in the public and private sector. Prejudice about women’s abilities and […]

THE GENDER EQUALITY DUTY AND WOMEN IN SPORT

Women in UNISON have many interests and hobbies, including either watching or participating in sport. We are all aware of the advantages of exercise, but are also increasingly aware of the lack of seriousness afforded to women’s sport, especially in the media. The recent women’s football world cup was one recent example where coverage was […]

THE LAW ON RAPE

Conference believes that every woman should live free from the threat of rape. The present law on rape in Scotland is outdated and antiquated, and there are a growing number of organizations calling for the definition of rape to be reformed. At present the narrow definition of both what constitutes rape and consent allows some […]

MAKING MOTHERHOOD SAFE FOR ALL

In 1987, a special conference called the Safe Motherhood Conference was held in Nairobi. It launched a global initiative to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries. At the time, at least one woman died from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth every minute – a staggering 529,000 deaths every year. In addition, for every woman […]

WOMEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Conference notes that climate change is the single greatest environmental threat to life on earth. It not only impacts on our environment physically and economically, it also affects us socially and culturally. Women in the UK have a key role in tackling climate change as consumers, educators and ‘change agents’ in our homes, encouraging the […]