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 
Equal Pay.
Equal Pay E- Petition
Cosmopolitan magazine has launched an e-petition calling for the government to implement equal pay audits and publish the results for companies with 250 or more employees. This was one of the proposals scrapped by the ConDem government when the 2010 Equality Act was introduced, and which, if implemented, would be another step in closing the gender pay gap.
Budget 2012 - Impact on women
The budget is a lost opportunity to introduce measures that would tackle female unemployment and provide a boost to women’s incomes and opportunities.National Women's Conference 2012
National women’s conference ballot results
Fawcett Society Day of Action: Saturday 19th November!
On average, women earn less, own less, and are more likely to work and retire in poverty than men.
Defend a womans right to choose
(11/08/11) UNISON policy is to support a woman’s right to choose. The issue was debated again at national womens conference in 2009, where delegates restated the belief that a woman's right to choose with regards to abortion is fundamental to her political, social and economic equality.Stop CSA Charges – don’t make children pay the price
(20/7/11) UNISON is supporting Gingerbread, the lone parents group, who are campaigning against proposals included in the Welfare Reform Bill which would see the introduction of fees for parents wishing to use the CSA to ensure that parents contribute towards the cost of their children’s upbringing.
National Women's Conference - what's it all about?
Women’s conference is held in mid-February each year, and is the UNISON event for women.Domestic abuse: NEW model workplace agreement
(16/08/10) UNISON has been campaigning for many years for recognition of domestic abuse as a trade union and workplace issue. We are proud of our groundbreaking “Raise the Roof” guide to negotiating workplace policies which support women experiencing abuse, and those who have escaped from their violent partners.Many branches have successfully negotiated agreements with their employers and our UPDATED model workplace agreement, which has been developed to assist branches negotiating locally, is now available to download: NEW model domestic abuse policy: NEW model domestic abuse policy.doc
UNISON supports the work of Ovarian Cancer Action
(01/09/11) In the past two years Ovarian Cancer Action has opened the UK's first research facility entirely dedicated to ovarian cancer. It has committed over one million pounds to ovarian cancer research and developed a symptom diary for women and GPs to use to clarify symptoms.
Life Saving Cervical Cancer Test and Black Women
(20/7/11) Calls for urgent action as a new survey reveals a worrying lack of awareness around life saving Cervical Cancer test amongst Black women.
Lymphoedema – help available from the Lymphoedema Support Network
(02/09/10) The Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) is a UK based charity that provides information to patients with lymphoedema, as well as to hospitals and clinics. The LSN offers fact sheets, self-help videos and a telephone support line and is involved in campaiging at national level for better standards of care for patients with the condition.What is Lymphoedema?
Lymphoedema is a condition of localised fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by the lymphatic system not working efficiently. It most commonly occurs in the legs and arms. Areas subject to lymphoedema tend to be prone to infection...
The White Ribbon Alliance's Global Maternal Mortality Campaign
(25/08/10) The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, whose Patron is Sarah Brown, is an international coalition of individuals and organisations formed to promote increased public awareness of the need to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women and newborns in the developing world, as well as in developed countries...
Are you interested in becoming a branch international officer?
(26/08/10) Motion 37 at the National Women's Conference ("Women and International Links") was about encouraging women members to become involved in international work and to become branch international officers...Burma campaign - Aung San Suu Kyi released
(updated 17/11/10) UNISON is delighted that Aung Suu Kyi, the female leader of the Pro Democracy movement in Burma has been released this week. Despite winning the elections in 1990 with an overwhelmingly majority, she has been under house arrest or detention for 15 of the past 20 yearsPalestine - UNISON supporting Palestinian women
(22/07/10) A motion supporting Palestinian lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender women was carried by a large majority at National Women's Conference 2010
The Mary Seacole (1805-1881) campaign - 'Turn her into stone'
(updated 16/11/10) Following the motion passed at National Women's Conference earlier this year, UNISON is now campaigning to raise public funds in order to erect a statue of this inspiring black female nurse, in the grounds of St. Thomas' Hospital, London...UNISON opposing forced marriage
(01/09/11) Each summer hundreds of girls and boys, largely from South Asian communities in Derby, Nottingham, Huddersfield, Leicester, Oldham, Hounslow in London, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Bradford and Leeds travel with their families to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh where they are forced into marriages.
