All Women Members: Please can you complete a short survey to identify what you want from this branch?

See also:

• Regional Women's Conference -Sep 07

• National Women's Day - 3 Mar 07 - Report

• National Women's Conference Report - 15-17 Feb 07

• Just Desserts - 'Feedback' (hmm...)-29 Jun 06

• National Women's Conference - 16-18 Feb 06 at Gateshead - Report

• Pregnant women and risk assessment - TUC briefing (18 Apr 05) (opens in new window)

• Equality checklists for Line Managers and Supervisors (opens in new window)

• A Guide to Appropriate Language

• Womens Health Guide (pdf file - 210KB - opens in new window)

• www.rightsofwomen.org.uk (opens in new window)

• New stronger law targets office lechers

• Barriers to pensions for women

Women Members

Nationally, UNISON has almost one million women members - more than two thirds of our union.

As Women make up two thirds of UNISON's members so we make sure their voices are heard throughout the union. At every level of the union, when people are elected to committees or delegations, women must be elected in fair proportion to their membership. Even the National Executive Council has to elect 44 women out of its 67 seats, and 13 are held by low-paid women.

UNISON calls this 'proportionality'.

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.

Positively Part-Time

Nationally UNISON is campaigning for equal treatment for part-time workers who still get a raw deal at work. The hourly pay rate for part-time workers is just 60% of the hourly rate for male full-time workers.

Nearly half of UNISON's members work part-time - the overwhelming majority of them women. Some occupations, like hospital domestics and school meals workers - are nearly all part-time. We're working to ensure:

• Equal pay for work of equal value
• Equal rights to bonus and other pay enhancements
• Equal access to fair pensions
• Equal access to quality training and promotion

Locally UNISON has been working to secure equal entitlement to Bank Holidays for part-time staff.

Developing our potential

We provide women-only training courses to enable women to develop their full potential. These courses help build confidence, develop negotiating skills and provide opportunities to develop new skills through lifelong learning.

To find out more go to UNISON Open College.

Women's health

One of UNISON's key objectives is to campaign for improved public services. Women in UNISON have a particular concern about the provision of health services for women - both as users and providers of these services. UNISON has produced a women's health pack with information on a range of issues, such as cervical screening and infertility treatment.

Women's groups in UNISON have been particularly active in campaigning on breast cancer. Too many of our friends and colleagues have been affected by it. Together with the UK Breast Cancer Coalition (UKBCC), we campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of screening and for improvements in research and health service provision for early detection, treatment and after-care.

We also want an end to the postcode lottery so that all women have access to the best services, irrespective of where they live.

How we organise

Each UNISON region has a Regional Women's Officer who works to support local branches on a wide range of issues.

Branch Women's Officer:

• Ann Hydes
  UNISON Office
  Matford
  County Hall
  Exeter
  EX2 4QX
  
  - contact