Woman's Officer Lorna McCourt

 

Phone  07949 623121

 

Women have always been central to trade unions and the fight for a more equal society. To celebrate International Women’s Day we’ve put together a timeline of some of the key dates for women and the trade union movement.

Christina McAnea addressing the 2022 women's conference
 
Stand beside us: Christina McAnea calls for solidarity from men
 
In her speech to the union's women's conference, the general secretary stressed the need for the union to be more representative of its million female members.

And she urged "husbands, fathers, sons and brothers" to stand beside women in the struggle for equality, "not in front of us".
 
 
Read the full story
 
 
Delegates share their pandemic experiences
 
 
Find all the conference reports here
 
Young women and the vaccine
 
 
Image of three young women
 

With vaccine hesitancy high among young women, three UNISON members share their experiences to reassure others that there’s nothing to fear.
 
 
Read more here

With more than a million women members, UNISON is always loud and proud for women’s rights at work. Here are just a couple of our recent wins

Posted on 

Worried about your finances? UNISON can help

UNISON can offer a range of financial assistance for members – ranging from specific COVID-19 grants to debt advice, benefits advice and winter fuel grants

Julia O’Connell, the vice chair of UNISON’s national women’s committee, explains what’s it like to be pregnant – and working – during COVID-19

Notes of National Womens Conference courtesy of Lorna McCourt.

Download
Unison National Women Conference 2020.do[...]
Microsoft Word document [27.3 KB]

Women’s Blog

Throughout the week UNISON Cymru Wales will be releasing a series of blogs about women involved in UNISON across the region. So far our blogs have featured Sarah Taylor and Angie Roberts. They have been shared via social media and can also be viewed via the following links: Sarah Taylor,  Angie Roberts.

 

Survey Launch

The Gender Equality in the workplace 2020 survey is now live. (https://bit.ly/3cLnO5l) Please share the survey as widely as possible. The survey does not take long to complete. Everyone can participate. The greater number of responses, the better the results. The survey will close 21 April.

 

#EachforEqual – International Women’s Day campaign theme

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is Each for Equal.

 

I have attached a blank pledge card for you to use.  I have asked people to complete the pledge by indicating what one thing they will do to achieve gender equality.

 

Please send me any of your pictures with the pledge card or in the #EachforEqual pose and we will include it in a short film later this week. You can see the#Eachforequal pose via our Instagram page. 

 

Best wishes,

 

Amber Courtney

Policy and Political Campaigning

Information Development Organiser

UNISON Cymru/Wales

 

Office: 02920 729 421

Mobile: 07908 143 412

Download
IWD2020-EachforEqual-SelfieCards-9B.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [21.0 KB]

 

 

 

 

 

Josie Bird tells conference the union must continue to grow, to provide even stronger opposition to the government

‘Sexual harassment is against the law, but the law doesn’t stop it happening‘

#UsToo

Sexual harassment isn't just a problem for celebrities. It's happening in ordinary workplaces, every day. And as the UK's largest women's organisation, we believe this has to change.

The government is currently consulting on whether current laws provide as much protection as they should. We believe they don't.

Please take part in the consultation – and encourage your members to as well through your newsletters and emails. Show the government sexual harassment affects us too.
 
 
Visit the campaign page and have your say
 
 
 
 
 

Why medics putting the answer for women facing pause in menopause is not the anormal transition of midlife, extended comment from regional organiser Darron Dupre about UNISON’s campaigning work with Velindre, Western Mail

 
 
This is why we're the home of women workers
There's still a lot to do before no-brainers like equal pay for equal work and no sexual harassment in the office are taken for granted. UNISON's assistant general secretary Christina McAnea discusses the union's three new female-focussed priorities.
Watch the film
 

 

 

 

 

Wonder woman
Labour's Rosena Allin-Khan recently addressed UNISON's women's conference – the largest gathering of women workers in the country. She's also an NHS A&E doctor, is a Muslim mother of two, speaks four languages, plays three musical instruments, sings and is an amateur boxer. This is no ordinary MP...
Read more about Rosena

Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable

 

 

20% fired after public sector sexual harassment claims, regional secretary Stephanie Thomas quoted, BBC Wales. Stephanie’s comment was not carried in full. Here is the full text provided to the BBC.

 

 

Stephanie Thomas, UNISON Cymru Wales regional secretary said,

“Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable and there must be a zero-tolerance attitude towards abuse in the workplace. Public service employees expect to be treated with dignity and they need to know their employers will protect them and ensure the working environment is professional and respectful.

 

“UNISON is a predominantly female trade union and our healthcare workers, teaching assistants, cooks, carers, cleaners and many more tell us that equality at work is still a distant dream.

 

“Last year, UNISON surveyed female Welsh public service workers. 70 per cent of respondents said women have not achieved equality in the workplace and 60 per cent had witnessed or experienced sexism in the workplace. As well as suffering sexual harassment, women are belittled at work, called pet names, overlooked for promotion and frequently told to defer to husbands or male colleagues who ‘know better’.

 

“UNISON wants employers to talk to us about how to change this negative working environment to make sure all female workers feel valued and safe.”

 

Notes for editors

In March 2018, UNISON Cymru Wales polled 150 members across public services and found:

 

  • 70 per cent of respondents said women have NOT achieved equality in the workplace
  • Over 60 per cent of respondents have witnessed or experienced sexism in the workplace
  • 20 per cent of respondents felt unable or didn’t know how to challenge sexist behaviour
  • Nearly 60 per cent of respondents have made changes at work as the result of being a woman because of their domestic situation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alastair Gittins

Communications

Information Development Organiser

UNISON Cymru/Wales

 

Office: 02920 729 453

Mobile: 07816 538 397

 

The Empowering Internet Safety Guide for Women

 

https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/the-empowering-internet-safety-guide-for-women/