Women in UNISON

National news

Sex inequality still strong

(31/03/08) Report shows women apprentices left out of 'jobs for the boys'

Mothers returning to work face double whammy

(29/02/08) Women with children hit on career and pay

Giving women a voice

(28/02/08) Oral history archive highlights landmark union-backed equal pay victories

Advances need to be built on

(18/02/08) Women's conference calls for urgent action on equality
News list >

UNISON has almost one million women members - more than two thirds of our union. Women still earn a lot less than men and face sex discrimination and harassment at work. Our members also juggle work and home commitments. Many have caring responsibilities and almost half work part-time. This is why UNISON takes a lead on negotiating and campaigning on women's rights at work and in the community. To get involved in our campaign go to Link to another page on this siteEqual Pay.

Women into Public Life

In 2008 National Women’s Conference passed a motion calling for more women to be involved at every level of public life. One important element of our public life where women are underrepresented is on the various bodies that govern a range of organisations.

The Women’s National Commission are working to encourage more women to apply for posts on public bodies.

Women urged to rise on 8 March

(22/02/08) UNISON women are urging their sisters to support the Million Women Rise march in London on International Women's Day - 8 March.

Call to champion Rape Crisis centres

(29/11/2007) UNISON members in England and Wales have a part to play in ensuring the survival of vital services for victims of sexual violence

Home Front - what do mums and dads need to make life work?

Caring for children, earning money, looking after the house – who does what, what’s best for children, what do mums and dads say they want and need?

Women delegates elected for national conference

(05/03/08) The delegates elected from National Women’s conference to National Delegate conference are Cath Elliot and Katrina Murray. The women's conference also selected a motion on Women in Public Life and a motion on Prostitution to go to the national delegate conference.
Link to another page on this siteDecisions carried at National women's conference

The new gender equality duty preparing for May 2007 (No 3)

The Equality Act 2006 amends the Sex Discrimination Act to place a statutory duty on all public authorities, when carrying out their functions

Mooncups

Women’s conference 2008 made a decision to publicise the use of mooncups as a natural and safe method of dealing with periods.

Breast Cancer awareness month

UNISON supports breast cancer awareness month every October

OBJECT to Lap Dancing Licensing laws

A legal loophole means Lap Dancing Clubs are licensed like Cafes. However they, like peep shows, fulfil the legal definition of a Sex Encounter Establishment.

OBJECT and the Fawcett Society are working together on a campaign to close this loophole and for lap dancing to be licensed, regulated and recognised for what it is.

White Ribbon Campaign

UNISON is calling for all men to demonstrate their commitment to eradicating violence against women by wearing a white ribbon on 25 November

Love your body

UNISON is campaigning for real women to be shown in the media and in advertising.

CONTACT DETAILS
• For urgent help and advice at work to go Help at Work.
• The UNISON contact for women's issues is Sharon Greene.
Women in UNISON
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: women@unison.co.uk
Picture of women for women page
Recent documents

Women's conference 2009 - bulletin

The bulletin for UNISON's 2009 Women's conference, containing all the relevant documents and forms.
Link to a PDF document on this siteWomen's conference 2009 - bulletin (428471 bytes)

End Child Poverty Demonstration – 4 October, Trafalgar Square. Keep the Promise

One in three children live in poverty in the UK today, and without significant investment this year, any progress on child poverty is at risk. Growing up in poverty hurts.


Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF (455766 bytes)

National Women’s Conference called on the government to do more to defeat poverty.

We can see the damage that poverty does to children and to our society and are demanding a better future for all our children.

The Government have made the boldest political promise of a generation – to end child poverty.

We need you to join the demonstration on the 4th October to call the government to account to keep its promise.

Please download and circulate the flyer

Abortion Rights Lobby of Parliament

Flyer to publicise the 7th May Abortion Rights lobby of Parliament
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF (253370 bytes)

National Women's Conference 2008 decisions

Record of decisions voted by members at this year's conference
Link to a document on this siteWord document (236032 bytes)

Maternity Leave and Pay Questionnaire

Link to a document on this siteWord document (64512 bytes)

UNISON National women's committee - Annual report 2007/8

UNISON is committed to promoting equality in all our work. Our objectives and priorities will be delivered in the light of UNISON developing a union-wide equality scheme.
Link to a PDF document on this siteUNISON National women's committee - Annual report 2007/8