A GLOBAL WOMEN’S TRADE UNION NETWORK

Much is happening in the trade union world about women. For example, in October 2009 the International Trade Union Confederation held a conference entitled “Decent Work, Decent Life for Women”. 450 women trade unionists from 100 countries discussed women’s issues; formulated strategies and collaborated on campaigns. UNISON’s International Committee does fantastic work to build alliances […]

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL – WHAT IT MEANS FOR WOMEN

Conference will be aware of the major changes that are being introduced to social care, both in the policy direction and provision of social care. This was originally piloted in local government and is now being extended into the health service affecting thousands of our members the vast majority of whom are women. These changes […]

THE REAL COST OF BREAST CANCER

Conference is concerned that many of our women members who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not know what help and support they are entitled to. Breast cancer can cause many problems, apart from the obvious health issues. It is time that we started to recognise the true cost of breast cancer and all the […]

RECOGNISING THE VALUE OF SCHOOLS STAFF

This conference welcomes the opportunity presented by the creation of the new schools staff negotiating body to properly recognise the true worth of our schools staff members. Without our women members working as school meals staff, caretakers, librarians, administrators and teaching assistants, schools would simply not function, yet all too often these women are low […]

WOMEN AND THE FAR RIGHT

On Tuesday 14 July, the date on which BNP members Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons formally took their seats in the European Parliament, the Hope not Hate petition was delivered to the parliament and 90,000 people said “not in my name”. Fortunately, Griffin failed in his remarkable application for a seat on the Committee on […]

A MILLION VOICES – WHY WOMEN MUST BE VOCAL

National women’s conference welcomes the Million Voices campaign. From healthcare to education, nursery and maternity provision, public transport, social care, recreation, parks and playgrounds, unquestionably it is women who are both the majority users of and providers of our public services. But during the last year we have seen more and more how the recession […]

LOWER THE AGE AND FREQUENCY OF SMEAR TESTS

Conference welcomes the recent changes to the frequency of smear testing from five years to every three years. However, this still is not frequent enough as women’s lives are still endangered. The legal age of consent is sixteen and this should be the age that smear tests commence. With the increase in the number of […]

WOMEN AND INTERNATIONAL LINKS

This Conference is proud of the reputation that UNISON has on International work. Within the Northern Region Women’s Network we have been developing links with Burma, Colombia and Palestine, especially in support of women and children in those countries with practical projects. These links show that many of the struggles are common to us all […]

SURROGACY – THE RIGHTS OF THE INTENDED MOTHER

Conference welcomes the recent increases in statutory maternity and adoption pay and allowances and the positive effects this is having on families. However, conference sadly notes that under current legislation a woman having a child through surrogacy is not entitled to any Maternity or Adoption leave. All they are eligible to is unpaid parental leave […]

CONTINUING TO CAMPAIGN FOR A BREAST CANCER FREE FUTURE

Conference believes that all girls and women should have a future free from the fear of breast cancer and associated conditions. Conference supports the Government, the NHS and its staff in their continued commitment to improve breast cancer services in order to make the vision of a future free from the fear of breast cancer […]