Campaigning handbook 2015
Women in UNISON – active, campaigning, leading Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
2 Contents
Introduction 4
Effective campaigning – the basics 5
Women and the cuts 9
Women in the workplace 15
Women and welfare reform 23
Raising the profile of women 25
Women as parents and carers 34
Ending violence against women 38
Abortion rights 47
Women’s health 49
Women internationally 59
Get involved 64
Getting help from UNISON 65
3 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Introduction
More than two thirds of UNISON members are women.
UNISON is proud to be the leading trade union for women. We have a solid history of women being at the heart of the union, through enshrining self-organisation into our rule book along with proportionality. As a “We will march on for decent pay, a union which is two thirds women we do not living wage, pay our people can live just talk the talk. Women are the foundation on, not just exist. on which UNISON is built. “And because of you, our union will UNISON’s women members have march on to defend our national successfully negotiated on key issues such as domestic abuse, equal pay and maternity health service. rights. “We will march to defend women’s Our group of UNISON women members health services – already cut to the (known as a self-organised group) bone, and more being slashed every campaigns for equality in the workplace and day, our local community services, for improvements to women’s rights in the services provided by women, for workplace and in the wider community. women, services to help women It also supports campaigns aimed at struggling with motherhood, with improving women’s lives – for example, violent partners, with drug and to change the law to protect women alcohol addiction – to defend that experiencing domestic abuse, or to raise awareness of health issues which mainly fairer society, that those who went affect women. before us, fought for.
The campaign ideas in this guide are based “I am confident that together we on motions passed by UNISON’s national can make a change. We can build women’s conferences. It also contains our strength. We can take back that contact details for organisations that which they would take away. UNISON works with that may be able to provide useful information. “The future really is in our hands. All the campaign ideas in this guide are Be proud of your achievements, and issues that have been prioritised through let us use them as a springboard to the democratic structures of women’s self- build our future. Together.” organisation. There may be other issues that you wish to run campaigns on in your branch Dave Prentis, general secretary or region.
If you run any successful campaigns or have any good ideas you wish to share, please do let us know:
Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/unisonwomen Twitter: www.twitter.com/WomenInUNISON Website: www.unison.org.uk/women
4 Effective campaigning – the basics
When you campaign you are trying to dates and opportunities to get your persuade people to take a particular campaign on track. For example, are course of action in relation to a particular there certain meetings your branch issue. You are also trying to change might want to attend or lobby? Are people’s attitudes or opinions. there regional UNISON events you could attend to get support from other When you campaign your tools are members or branches? Is there a local information, argument and publicity. event that could provide a useful ‘hook’ Many branch activists are experienced for your campaign? in running campaigns on both local and national issues. However, it’s always useful Who does the planning? to review our approach, so below are a few Obviously it is up to the branch activists and basic tips. And for those of you who are committee to agree to a campaign plan. But new to publicity and campaigning, hopefully it may be easier to form a sub-committee or this will be of help, as will UNISON’s guide working party to focus primarily on drawing Effective campaigning, available with lots of up the plan. other useful resources at www.unison.org. uk/our-campaigns/get-campaigning some of Don’t make your planning sub-committee which is included here. too big. Six to eight committed people is the maximum you need, otherwise you will just This guide is in no way intended to be a final be setting up an unwieldy group. The team word – as with any campaign there should be could then take the plan to the rest of the room for everybody to contribute ideas. branch for discussion and agreement. Objectives are necessary Drawing up a document – which lists key dates, proposed activities, resources and • Objectives are the focus for any responsibilities – would be impossible to do campaign, around which everything else from scratch in a full committee or branch is built. meeting. A small group allows flexibility to meet as and when necessary. The group • Objectives also make it possible to can continue to meet as events progress, review the campaign. Are we achieving adapting the plan or co-opting others as and what we set out to achieve? Make sure when necessary. They can also review each everyone knows the issues around the phase as it happens and report back to the campaign. Encourage member activity in rest of the branch. support of the campaign. The campaign can also have the added benefit of Of course this may not be appropriate for building organisation within the branch your particular branch. Or you may wish and raising the profile of UNISON. to work with other branches on this basis. Choose whatever suits everyone best. Some • You need to know where you’re going, branches agree to free up specific individuals so you know when you’ve got there...and in these situations, sharing out their work so when to stop! they have more time to concentrate on the Planning is essential campaign. • Creating a flexible plan with a timetable Don’t forget to involve regional staff. Are and with responsibilities identified there organising staff who can help you? means that everyone is aware of the They may also have experience of working intended progress of the campaign on campaigns. and can prepare for events. It also makes it possible to identify shortfalls in resources.
• Make sure you know about relevant
5 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Communications — or how to • how the campaign aids recruitment and get your message across retention It is important to think about who your • messages of support from outside the target audience is and what you want to branch communicate. Communications may be viewed as ‘internal’ ie within UNISON • appeals for financial support. (either the branch, the region, or nationally) or ‘external’ ie outside UNISON (eg the Who do you want to tell? employers, local or national media, trades It is worthwhile spending some time councils, other trade unions etc.) or a identifying the following in relation to your combination of both. campaign:
You may want to think about using some of • Direct target the following methods: The group or individual who needs to act to • Press releases, to tell the media about enable you to meet your goal. For example: specific events in your campaign or a an anti-BNP campaign might have as its compelling story in your branch. Don’t direct target the voting public. forget that journalists are interested in anything that will make a story, so • Indirect target think carefully about what interests their Other groups or individuals your campaign readers. has to reach, because they are influential in • Briefing meetings for activists and enabling you to reach your direct target. For members. Do you want to invite a guest example, it might be the press, and another speaker along? What issues do you want might be other political parties or other to tell people about? unions. You may not agree with everything the indirect target says, but they can help • Could you create any photo you get to your direct target, so you need a opportunities to attract the attention of relationship with them. the press and public but also to provide your branch with stock photographs to • Allies be used in your publicity? These are your close friends, that you would • Newsletters. trust enough to share your campaign plans with. Other ideas: circulars, emails, noticeboards, word of mouth, workplace meetings, pre- Raising public awareness printed envelopes, social events, posters, There are various ways in which you can leaflets, advertising, blogs, website raise public awareness and obtain further comments, radio phone-ins, writing to support. Many activities will be similar to newspapers, texts, tweets, facebook and those that you run in the workplace except other social media. that they have a wider audience. They could What do you want to include: communicate? • putting on an exhibition for example in Think about: the local library
• the aims of your campaign • running a street stall
• back-up information which can fill gaps • having a stand at a local event such as a May Day rally or summer fair • key dates in the campaign timetable • handing out leaflets or stickers • who is responsible for what
6 • getting people to sign a petition is appropriate.
• organising a public meeting with a The sorts of things that MPs can do are: keynote speaker • write to a minister and get a personal • participating in local seminars and reply other events, for example by providing • ask a written or an oral parliamentary speakers, by having an information stand question or by sending delegates who will make a contribution from the floor • put down an Early Day Motion • providing speakers to local groups, • present a Private Member’s bill schools and colleges • present a Ten Minute Rule bill • holding some form of demonstration or • sponsor or speak in a parliamentary visual stunt debate. • publicising your activities in the local You will have to decide the best way to lobby media. your MP – how to contact them, where to Hold a sponsored event or get your message contact them and in what capacity. You will printed on T-shirts, caps, badges, mugs or also have to decide whether it is best to pens which you can sell to supporters – it lobby them as individual constituents or as a can all help publicise your campaign as well campaign group or both. You could: as raise funds for further activities. • write to them at their constituency or the A public event can also provide an House of Commons opportunity to involve other campaigning • visit them at their constituency surgery groups and local or national celebrities, (an appointment is advisable) as well as being a good story for the local media. • visit them at the House of Commons (always make an appointment first) A survey is a very good way to raise awareness and to obtain evidence to • join a mass lobby being organised strengthen your case. The survey does not nationally need to be complicated – in fact the shorter and simpler the survey form is, the more • invite them to a meeting. likely people are to fill it in. MPs do take notice of letters, especially Another way to raise awareness is to hold individual letters from their constituents. And a special meeting. The meetings might be the more they get, the more likely they are to branch or open meetings to which non- take notice. members are also invited. It may be useful to lobby your MEP in some The speaker could be someone from circumstances. MEPs are less likely to hold within the union, including someone from a local surgery because their constituency another branch or someone from an outside is too large. However, they will have a local organisation. You could also show a video, office and you could make an appointment to as an event in itself or as part of the special meet them there. To find out who your MEP meeting. is and where to write to them, contact your local council.
Lobbying You can ask an MEP to: The reason for lobbying your MP is in order to get them to take some action, so you • vote in a certain way on legislation need to understand exactly what MPs can do • represent your opinion in committee before you decide whether lobbying your MP discussions on new laws 7 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
• put you in touch with other MEPs • was the campaign a success? interested in your campaign’s issue. • did we achieve all our objectives? The best way to get in touch with your MEP is by writing. It will give them time to brief • what worked well? themselves on the issue you’ve raised. • what mistakes did we make? There are also various groups of • what could we have done better? professionals that you might wish to approach as part of a campaign. Lobbying a • what lessons have we learned? local organisation can be less confrontational than lobbying individuals and more For example, did you run a recruitment stall productive than lobbying their national body. but nobody turned up? Where did you put The first step is to identify your targets and it? What time was it there? How did you then to decide what message you want to publicise it? Where did you publicise it? get across to them. You should try to: And don’t forget that successes need to be • gain their understanding of, and shared with others. Don’t assume that you sympathy for, the issues were the last to think of an idea. Get your rep to report it to your regional self-organised • propose action that they can take as part group committee or the regional recruitment of their daily professional lives and organisation committee. And don’t forget to tell UNISON InFocus, the magazine for • work with, rather than against, them. activists. Importance of recruitment No UNISON campaign can neglect the importance of recruitment and retention of members. Running a well-planned and high profile campaign in itself demonstrates that UNISON is worth joining. UNISON campaigns should show members that their concerns are being addressed and hence aid retention.
Recruitment opportunities need to be identified in your planning and also picked up on, as they arise in the course of your activity.
See our joining page for more information: www.unison.org.uk/for-members/joining- unison Evaluation The importance of reviewing cannot be overstressed. There’s no point reinventing the wheel, so ensure that you learn from your and others’ experiences. At every stage your plan needs to be looked at and the activities reviewed. We can all learn from successes and mistakes.
Think about how you might review activities. You will need to ask:
8 Women and the cuts
The cuts across the public services are charging exorbitant interest rates. Where having a detrimental effect on women’s borrowers are unable to make the scheduled lives and the lives of their families. Women, repayment, roll over charges quickly mount whether single or in relationships are more up, creating massive debts that the borrower likely to live in low income households and has no realistic chance of repaying. single parents and older women are more likely to be in poverty. The UK is one of the When it comes to prioritising essential items richest economies in the world and yet more such as food and bills, women’s dignity than one in five people live below the poverty and health issues are also being ignored. line, with many of our women members One of the most expensive items a woman relying on food banks and experiencing fuel has to buy is sanitary protection and with poverty. teenage daughters, the cost to a family can be phenomenal. Yet VAT at 5% is also still In both the private and public sector, we charged on sanitary products. are seeing the increased use of zero hours contracts providing no guaranteed income; The welfare reforms will see family slide changing shift patterns taking no account of further into poverty, women will find women’s caring responsibilities or work life themselves in the predicament of either balance; the removal of enhanced payments providing food for their family or keeping a for anti-social hours and other indirect pay roof over their heads as the introduction of cuts; the prospect of regional pay which universal credit will mean a sum of money would widen the gender pay gap and further for the entire household and not monies for impoverish poor communities. individual members of the family such as sons and daughters who still live at home. Research has found that where a woman is the main breadwinner, families were more These changes may lead to an increase in than twice as likely to have taken out a domestic violence for many women as the payday loan from unscrupulous companies family income decreases and/ or changes.
“We must not stand idly by and see our local services decimated. We must not stand idly by and see our poor and our elderly and our vulnerable abandoned to their fates. And we must not stand idly by while the rich get ever richer and while the bankers enjoy their bonuses; we must not and cannot simply sit back and watch as our families, our neighbours, and our communities, are destroyed.”
9 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
The impact of universal credit is not yet fully ‘triple jeopardy’ to highlight a threefold attack revealed, but already hundreds of thousands on women via job cuts in the public sector, of working parents have lost out through the a reduction in the core public services that government’s change to working tax credits, women rely on themselves and those they with parents facing the impossible task of care for, and slashed benefits – all of which finding additional work hours in a climate of threatens a huge step back in women’s job cuts and redundancies. equality.
Decisions on the economy, in particular on As discontent at austerity and falling living health, and cuts to public services, have a standards grow, we are also witnessing major impact on women’s wider lives and will concerted attempts by politicians to create have a profound impact on increasing health divisions among society for example by inequalities. scapegoating migrant workers and Muslims. The small minority of Muslim women who Services provided primarily for and by wear the niqab are particularly being targeted women are being decimated by the cuts, as part of a wider attempt to stoke up racism particularly those services for LGBT, Black and Islamophobia. and disabled women, but also including the closure of Sure Start centres, libraries, The public sector women’s advice centres, leisure facilities, after schools clubs – the list is endless. The budget cuts being imposed on the public sector are having a huge impact on women. Women’s safety is also being put at risk A third of women in the UK are employed through the closure of services to support in the public sector, making up 65% of the women experiencing domestic and workforce. In some regions almost fifty per other forms of violence and through the cent of the female population is employed in privatisation of police staff, who provide this sector. Since the cuts in public services, dedicated violence against women services. female unemployment has risen to 1.08 Police privatisation may mean you could be million, a level last seen in 1988 and this is dealing with a private company when you expected to rise to 1.5 million by 2015. There ring 999, walk into a police station and talk is a disproportionate effect of the cuts on to the front desk, have a crime investigated, public services such as Sure Start, refuges are visited by a police forensic team, use and advice centres, as users of the services victim support services, and are taken into are almost exclusively women as are the staff custody – and with no recourse to the police employed. complaints commission if you are dealt with badly. LGBT women are experiencing a reduction in specialised services which meet their needs Reduced access to legal advice will as a result of cuts in both voluntary and further add to the pressures that women public sectors. will be facing. And funding cuts to advice organisations such as Citizen’s Advice Black women are more likely to work in the will also reduce the help that women can public sector as it has historically been the access in relation to housing matters, benefit equality employer of choice and therefore entitlement issues and legal aid. are affected more by job cuts and attacks on terms and conditions in this sector. Black The Immigration Bill too will have a women are also more likely to be on lower detrimental effect on migrant women workers incomes and therefore more reliant both on in public services and the right to a family the public services and on benefits that are life. under attack.
Overall, the cuts are leaving the majority of Disabled women are facing increasing women without support, placing them at difficulties at work through the squeeze on risk and plunging them into poverty. The Access to Work budgets and the imposition Fawcett Society has called the impact a of strict, inflexible sick leave policies that
10 ignore disabled people’s right to disability women are given cash to arrange and pay for leave. care in their own homes - also leaves them isolated and more vulnerable to abuse. Despite the Health Service apparently being outside the cuts, there have been many The social work profession reductions in hospital services across the country and often these are the ones that Social work is a gendered activity, in terms of provide specialist services to women. Eleven both its workforce and client group and it is hospitals have already lost maternity services well documented that more women than men since 2010. The closure of local maternity enter this area of work. It was a career with units will force women to travel miles to a defined career path, where newly qualified another hospital. social workers could expect support and training as they developed their skills in the The voluntary and community real world. sector However in recent years, this approach has Women’s organisations in the third sector are deteriorated with budget cuts, greater client large employers of women and their closure expectations, scapegoating by the press, leads to a loss of specialist knowledge and increasing workloads, pay failing to keep up expertise as well as jobs and services for with inflation, high staff turnover, widespread women. use of agency staff and a reduction in support and training programmes for newly Research by the Women’s Resource Centre qualified staff. has uncovered the lack of understanding of the need for women-only and ‘by women, Anecdotal evidence suggests that the for women’ services by the statutory sector culmination of this is an increase in the level and funders, and the need to address this to of sickness absence, refusals of flexible ensure that women receive appropriate, and working requests and aggressive use of often life-saving, services. formal capability procedures. The homecare service Women and the housing crisis The proportion of domiciliary care jobs that The UK is suffering from an acute housing are done by women, being outsourced to crisis, with rents soaring and house building the private sector is increasing under this grinding to a halt as a direct result of government. All the evidence shows that the recession, whilst the number of new the privatisation of domiciliary care services households is increasing faster than the results in reduced service provision to the number of new builds. most vulnerable and the reduction in the Against a background of mounting debt terms and conditions of UNISON women across the country, huge numbers of members. For example, between 150- homeowners are having their homes 200,000 home care workers are paid less repossessed. This is particularly the case than the national minimum wage because for women with children whose relationships they are not paid for the time they spend have ended and who are unable to keep travelling between the homes of the people up with their mortgage repayments on a they care for. reduced income, or those who have become It also risks exacerbating the problem of unemployed due to public sector job cuts. elder abuse with cost cutting leading to a At the sharpest end, many hundreds of reduction in standards, inadequate training, women sleep rough on the streets every very poor terms and conditions, high night, fearing for their safety. staff turnover and inconsistency of care. The closure of day centres, cuts to other essential services and the government’s Campaign ideas ‘personalisation agenda’ - where older • Raise awareness at national and local level of the impact of cuts on women and 11 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
how the loss of posts traditionally held primarily by women. by women are impacting on services. • Work with UNISON’s police and justice • Gather information from regional service group and the ending violence women’s groups on the impact of the against women (EVAW) sector to cuts on women’s lives and the extent raise awareness of the implications of of redundancies and the reduction in police privatisation for women, and to pay and hours within the public and campaign for publicly provided and voluntary sectors that particularly impact properly funded EVAW services. on women members, including those experiencing double disadvantage, such • Promote and work with the Valuing as Black, disabled and LGBT women. Maternity Campaign to campaign for properly funded and resourced maternity • Lobby the government for tougher services. regulation of payday loan companies, including capping interest rates. • Campaign to organise women workers in the homecare service sector and support • Work with individual members, regional the Ethical Care and Pay Up for Travel women’s committees and networks Time campaigns and promote the Ethical to lobby government ministers about Care Charter. the need to provide secure, affordable, decent housing for all, to increase • Investigate and raise awareness of the regulation in the private sector and to issues of the impact of cuts on the social ensure that the housing needs of women work profession, issue guidance to are taken into account in housing policy. women members on the steps that they can take to protect their health and their • Liaise with local community professional careers. organisations and public sector alliances to support those most in • Encourage women members to get need, and campaign jointly to raise involved in decision making bodies public awareness of the impact that such as in the new NHS or groups this government’s policies are having representing our communities, schools on the most vulnerable in our society and health bodies, so that they can particularly highlighting the return to food influence the future of our public banks. services.
• Encourage members who can afford • Encourage women to use their vote as a to do so to support food banks with way to make political change. donations of less popular items – • Campaign to protect those services particularly sanitary protection, toiletries, used primarily by women, and provided baby products, which are often primarily be women (including Sure Start overlooked by donors. centres) which support women caring • Encourage your branch or regional for children who are facing challenges in women’s group to link up with local food that care. co-ops. • Use equality impact assessments to • Work more closely with other regional oppose cuts, ensure you are trained in self-organised groups and the young completing assessments and monitor members forum, with UNISON’s how public authorities are undertaking service groups, other unions and trade equality impact assessments. union networks where appropriate, to • Help ensure that members are aware of campaign against the increasing drive the assistance available to them in crisis for private rather than public sector via branch welfare officers or UNISON provision and to protect those services Welfare ‘There for You’. used primarily by women and provided 12 • And don’t forget, when you are planning Fax: 020 7636 0632 your campaign, to talk to co-workers www.tuc.org.uk about the issues and recruit non- members into UNISON. • Women and the Cuts toolkit www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender- More information equality/tuc-women-and-cuts-toolkit UNISON • Women and Poverty www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender- • Women and public spending cuts equality/poverty www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ member-groups/women/key-issues The Fawcett Society The UK’s leading campaigning organisation • Resources for women members, for women’s equality and rights – at home, at including Organising for Equality work and in public life. www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ The Fawcett Society member-groups/women/resources 11-12 The Oval • A million voices for change London E2 9DT Tel: 020 3137 0809 UNISON’s campaign against public Email: [email protected] sector cuts. http://www.unison.org.uk/our- www.fawcettsociety.org.uk campaigns/unison-campaigns/million-voices/ home • Women and the Economy campaign www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/our-work/ • Homecare campaigns/women-economy UNISON is campaigning for more funding False Economy and better quality homecare services. For everyone concerned about the impact www.unison.org.uk/homecare of the government’s spending cuts on their • Health care – key issues community, their family or their job. UNISON’s campaigns to defend and improve the NHS and the rights of workers in the Contact: [email protected] health service. http://falseeconomy.org.uk/ http://falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/tags/tag/ www.unison.org.uk/at-work/health-care/key- Women issues Women’s Resource Centre • There for you A charity which supports women’s There for You offers a unique confidential organisations to be more effective and advice and support service just for members sustainable. They also lobby decision makers of UNISON and their dependants. on behalf of the women’s not-for-profit sector for improved representation and funding. www.unison.org.uk/there-for-you Women’s Resource Centre TUC United House With 54 affiliated unions representing 6.2 North Road million working people from all walks of life, London N7 9DP the TUC campaigns for a fair deal at work Tel: 020 7697 3450 and for social justice at home and abroad. Email: [email protected] www.wrc.org.uk The Trade Union Congress Congress House • Impact of austerity Great Russell Street http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/our- London work/impact-of-austerity WC1B 3LS Tel: 020 7636 4030 13 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
End Violence Against Women Coalition Shelter (EVAW) Shelter helps millions of people every year A unique coalition of organisations and struggling with bad housing or homelessness individuals campaigning to end all forms of – and they campaign to prevent it in the first violence against women. They lobby all levels place. of government in the UK, and challenge the www.shelter.org.uk wider cultural attitudes that tolerate and condone violence against women. Crisis Crisis is the national charity for single End Violence Against Women Coalition homeless people, dedicated to ending 17–25 New Inn Yard homelessness by delivering life-changing London EC2A 3EA services and campaigning for change. Tel: 020 7033 1559 www.crisis.org.uk Email: [email protected] www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk Tell Mama, measuring anti-Muslim attacks This project will provide a means for anti- • Protecting women’s services Muslim incidents to be reported, recorded campaign and analysed, working to ensure this data www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/ is accurate and reliable and the victims and protecting-women-s-services witnesses affected receive support. http://tellmamauk.org/ Maternity Action Working to end inequality and promote the Hope Not Hate health and well-being of all pregnant women, Mobilising everyone opposed to the British their partners and children from before National Party’s (BNP) and English Defence conception through to the child’s early years. League (EDL) politics of hate. It was formed in 2004 as a positive antidote to the BNP Maternity Action and has the support of the Daily Mirror, trade 52-54 Featherstone Street unions, celebrities and community groups London EC1Y 8RT across the country. Tel: 020 7253 2288 www.maternityaction.org.uk Hope Not Hate PO Box 67476 • Valuing maternity campaign London NW3 9RF The campaign is calling for job security for Tel: 020 7681 8660 all women during pregnancy and maternity; www.hopenothate.org.uk maternity and parental leave that promotes real equality; services to support a safe and Migrant Rights’ Network healthy pregnancy. The work of this charity brings together http://valuingmaternity.org migrant activists and support organisations, think tanks, academics, faith groups and Women’s Budget Group public sector representatives to advocate for An independent organisation bringing a rights-based approach towards migration together individuals from academia, non- in the UK. governmental organisations and trades unions to promote gender equality through Migrant Rights’ Network appropriate economic policy. 33 Corsham Street Email: [email protected] London N1 6DR www.wbg.org.uk Email: [email protected] www.migrantsrights.org.uk Rights of Women Providing guidance for law and policy makers and other organisations and institutions, and working to put women’s rights on the public policy agenda. www.rightsofwomen.org.uk 14 Women in the workplace
“As women we are at the sharp end of the systematic unravelling of the welfare state, an attack on equalities and our hard-won equality legislation. Equality legislation which gave women at least some chance of a hearing if they were discriminated against – but now they have to pay hundreds, just to get the chance to be heard. Equality legislation designed to protect pregnant women and families – now under attack from big business who say maternity rights are unaffordable. Equality legislation which has still failed hopelessly to close the gender pay gap, more than 40 years on.”
Challenging indirect opportunities cannot be ignored. discrimination There have been instances of managers The cuts impact on the ability of women to putting extra pressure on women and remain in employment and those that are ignoring their caring responsibilities outside in work, come under enormous pressure to of work, making threats about job security over perform. Government ministers have without good reasons. Dignity at work openly said that if women choose to have a policies state this practice is unacceptable, child that is their responsibility and should yet women feel fear about addressing this not be a burden on their employers. Women formally because of constant job insecurity face barriers to progressing professionally within the public sector. or given lesser roles after becoming parents or carers, being seen as choosing these Women are under increasing pressure to be responsibilities over a career. Additionally seen coming in to work often outside of core there is a lack of any real support to hours to manage an ever increasing work encourage women to progress outside of load. This is impacting upon the work-life traditional roles. balance of these women. Although it is the responsibility of managers to be familiar The threat to our terms and conditions in with policies, more and more often it seems particular, policies on work life balance, that managers are either not aware or are health and well being along with equal not making information available to staff, 15 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
particularly female staff who may use them. million working people from all walks of life, Employers are required to make sure that the TUC campaigns for a fair deal at work equal opportunities policies are implemented and for social justice at home and abroad. in the workplace but there does not seem to be a system in place to assess this in The Trade Union Congress practice. This has an adverse effect on our Congress House women members who juggle work pressure Great Russell Street with home commitments. London WC1B 3LS Tel: 020 7636 4030 Campaign ideas Fax: 020 7636 0632 www.tuc.org.uk • Promote polices within the workplace to support the healthy work life balance • Gender equality for women members and which protect www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender- the working conditions of our women equality members. Working Families • Work with employers to set up scrutiny The UK’s leading work-life balance panels to measure the effectiveness of organisation. The charity helps working policies which protect and support the parents and carers and their employers right of women to work and develop find a better balance between responsibilities within the workplace. at home and work.
• Use equality impact assessments Working Families to help ensure that women are not Cambridge House disproportionally affected by cuts and 1 Addington Square workplace policy changes. London SE5 0HF Tel: 020 7253 7243 • Raise awareness of the issues and Freephone helpline for low income families: promote guidance on discrimination. 0300 012 0312 Email: [email protected] • And don’t forget, when you are planning www.workingfamilies.org.uk your campaign, to talk to co-workers about the issues and recruit non- Maternity Action members into UNISON. Working to end inequality and promote the health and well-being of all pregnant women, More information their partners and children from before UNISON conception through to the child’s early years.
• Resources for women members, Maternity Action including Organising for Equality 52-54 Featherstone Street www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ London EC1Y 8RT member-groups/women/resources/ Tel: 020 7253 2288 www.maternityaction.org.uk • Sex discrimination www.unison.org.uk/get-help/help-with- • Valuing maternity campaign problems-at-work/discrimination/gender/your- The campaign is calling for job security for rights all women during pregnancy and maternity; maternity and parental leave that promotes • Equal Pay real equality; services to support a safe and www.unison.org.uk/get-help/help-with- healthy pregnancy. problems-at-work/pay-and-pensions/equal- http://valuingmaternity.org pay/your-rights/
TUC With 54 affiliated unions representing 6.2
16 Variable and zero hours conditions, or where appropriate retainer contracts pay. A ‘zero hours contract’ is a permanent (as • There may be opportunities for challenge opposed to casual) contract with no defined under the Public Sector Equality Duty as hours, but instead a requirement made by the there has been a marked tendency for employer that the employee will work hours women to be disproportionately affected. as set by the employer. These hours may alter from day to day, or week to week. • Use the findings of any research on zero hours contracts to campaign against the In the public sector there has been an adverse impact on women. increase in the use of zero hours or permanent variable hours contracts as a • And don’t forget, when you are planning means of avoiding compulsory redundancies, your campaign, to talk to co-workers reducing costs and maximising profits. What about the issues and recruit non- zero hour contracts in truth offer workers is members into UNISON. insecure, low paid employment. More information Under these contracts, there is no guarantee UNISON of earned income or regular hours, making it difficult to arrange dependant care, benefit • Vulnerable workers from cheaper travel or opportunities at including zero hours contracts factsheet work such as training, as well as having a www.unison.org.uk/knowledge/pay/vulnerable- detrimental impact on work-life balance. workers/overview/ Local authorities are not the only ones using zero hours or variable hours contracts. Health and safety Surveys have found that the second highest The coalition government’s attack on health proportion of workers on zero hour contracts and safety legislation, and budget cuts to work in the health sector and the third highest the Health and Safety Executive and local was education, and the evidence suggests authorities, will inevitably result in increased that more women than men are employed on workplace incidents, injuries and fatalities. these types of contracts. The government’s decision to amend the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Some evidence suggests that unscrupulous which removes civil liability will deny our employers are using these contracts to members – and others – access to justice for remove employees with health and disability workplace injury claims. issues from the workplace, imposing them on individuals as the only alternative to A substantial number of our women members redundancy but then never subsequently work in jobs which contain all the factors contacting them for work. Women members of hazardous working, including risks from who are reliant on paid employment are chemicals, manual handling, fatigue, infection being faced with difficult decisions, whether risks, violence and stress. Because of the to accept the contract to avoid redundancy type of work that women traditionally do, although regular employment is not women are more likely to suffer work-related guaranteed, or leaving voluntarily and having stress, musculo-skeletal disorders and to wait to be eligible to claim state benefits. health problems such as dermatitis. But in the workplace, employer liability and risk Campaign ideas assessment duties are being substantially weakened, whilst enforcement of health • Raise awareness of the implication for and safety law is increasingly left up to women members of zero hours or variable significantly diminished and less effective HSE hours contracts. and Local Authority Officers. • Negotiate with employers for improvements to local terms and 17 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Campaign ideas leaflets and detailed guidance on health and safety law. • Campaign and lobby for the reinstatement www.hse.gov.uk of Section 47 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and for strengthening of health Bullying and harassment and safety protections in the workplace. The public sector cuts have had an • Demand that gender factoring is unprecedented impact on women, with taken into account in workplace risk increasing numbers accepting redundancy assessments. and voluntary severance. Those women who • Highlight the relevance to women are left in the workplace are experiencing an of Health and Safety legislation and increase in stress as work pressures mount encourage more women members to and bullying, in its various manifestations become Health and Safety reps. increases.
• And don’t forget, when you are planning This is also affecting vulnerable clients, as your campaign, to talk to co-workers members may hesitate to raise concerns about the issues and recruit non- about unsafe working practices due to the members into UNISON. cuts.
More information Campaign ideas UNISON • Raise awareness and help women recognise the signs of bullying and • Health and safety guidelines harassment and to be aware of the www.unison.org.uk/get-help/help-with- actions to take. problems-at-work/health-and-safety/health- and-safety-guidelines • Encourage employers to use and follow bullying and harassment or dignity at • Health and safety courses work workplace policies. www.unison.org.uk/for-activists/training/u- train/health-and-safety-courses • Ask for a dedicated steward or branch officer at your branch, responsible TUC for supporting women to address the With 54 affiliated unions representing 6.2 problem and ensure that training is million working people from all walks of life, available for that role. the TUC campaigns for a fair deal at work and for social justice at home and abroad. • Ensure that workplace health and safety policies take account of potential bullying The Trade Unions Congress risks. Congress House Great Russell Street • And don’t forget, when you are planning London your campaign, to talk to co-workers WC1B 3LS about the issues and recruit non- members into UNISON. Tel: 020 7636 4030 Fax: 020 7636 0632 More information www.tuc.org.uk UNISON • Health and safety • Bullying and harassment www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and- www.unison.org.uk/get-help/discrimination/ safety bullying-and-harassment/overview/ The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) including the‘Harassment at work guide’, The national independent watchdog for work- stock number 1359. related health, safety and illness. It provides information and advice and also produces 18 TUC • Bullying and harassment With 54 affiliated unions representing 6.2 www.hse.gov.uk/stress/furtheradvice/ million working people from all walks of life, bullyingharassment.htm the TUC campaigns for a fair deal at work and for social justice at home and abroad. Equality for bisexual women The Trade Union Congress workers Congress House Quite often bisexual women face biphobia not Great Russell Street only from heterosexuals, but from the LGBT London community as well. They face allegations of WC1B 3LS sitting on the fence and of not making their Tel: 020 7636 4030 minds up. Bisexual women are particularly likely Fax: 020 7636 0632 to be accused of being greedy or promiscuous. www.tuc.org.uk Bisexuality is often paid no more than lip-service in equality action plans and omitted from • Bullying equality and diversity training. www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and- safety/bullying Bisexual women are far more likely to hide or disguise their sexual orientation at work, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and are significantly more likely to suffer from The national independent watchdog for work- distress or have mental health difficulties. related health, safety and illness. It provides information and advice and also produces Campaign ideas leaflets and detailed guidance on health and safety law. • Promote UNISON’s factsheets on ‘Bisexuality: a trade union issue’ and on www.hse.gov.uk ‘Lesbian, gay and bisexual workers rights’ available to download from www.unison. org.uk/about/our-organisation/member- groups/lgbt/resources
• Publicise and promote the annual UNISON network meeting for bisexual members, held each July and Bisexual Visibility Day held each September 23.
• Make sure that bisexuality is included in all workplace policies and explicitly within the diversity implications section of every document and policy.
• And don’t forget, when you are planning your campaign, to talk to co-workers about the issues and recruit non-members into UNISON. More information
UNISON
UNISON fights discrimination and prejudice in the workplace on behalf of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members. We do this by building local and national groups of LGBT members, negotiating with employers and offering individual support to anyone
19 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
experiencing discrimination. We also provide access to practical advice, resources and legal information.
• LGBT www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ member-groups/lgbt/
Bisexual Index A collaborative network of activists and other UK bisexuals, working together for a change in the way people view bisexuality and bisexuals.
Bisexual Index c/o Unit 11 Angel Wharf 58 Eagle Wharf Road London N1 7ER
Email: [email protected] www.bisexualindex.org.uk
20 Flexible working website and activists/members bulletins regularly. Too many employers view flexible working as only benefiting the employee. Some Campaign ideas employers believe that a desire to work flexibly implies a lack of commitment, that it • Raise awareness of the right to request is primarily a benefit for working mothers and flexible working and the procedure that it will breed resentment among those for flexible working requests in the who don’t work flexibly. These attitudes workplace. represent the biggest obstacle to flexible • Raise awareness of the right to time off working. Apart from enhancing work life for caring responsibilities. balance for employees, with the added health benefits, and reducing the need to travel, • Identify areas of good practice and share flexible working can significantly improve with workplace representatives. productivity, enabling organisations to reduce costs, for example with home working, whilst • Work with service groups and women’s improving efficiency and boosting motivation networks and gather information on and morale. flexible working practice locally, and to use the guidance to support members The impact of the cuts to the public sector wishing to exercise their right to request. will put women at a further disadvantage as, for example employers are even more likely • And don’t forget, when you are planning to turn down requests for part time working your campaign, to talk to co-workers arrangements when they are concerned that about the issues and recruit non- they will not be able to back fill due to cost members into UNISON. restraints. The cuts could result in ‘knee jerk’ reactions from line managers and employers, More information refusing all flexible working requests without UNISON considering them properly and/or without considering any compromises or alternative • Flexible working remedies. www.unison.org.uk/knowledge/employment- rights/flexible-working/overview Despite numerous attempts to ensure that employers have a consistent approach to including a bargaining factsheet and work-life dealing with flexible working requests, there balance toolkit. are still widespread differences. As those most likely to be in caring roles are women, Working families this disadvantages women far more than men. The UK’s leading work-life balance Some employees, women in particular are organisation. The charity helps working having difficulties in obtaining time off work to parents and carers and their employers care for their elderly dependants. find a better balance between responsibilities at home and work. Many workplaces now have policies in place to enable employees to take time off work Working Families to care for their sick children. Unfortunately, Cambridge House these policies do not often reflect the fact 1 Addington Square that, as a society, we are all living longer and London SE5 0HF in many families it usually falls on the women Tel: 020 7253 7243 to care for disabled and elderly dependants. Freephone helpline for low income families: 0300 012 0312 The government recently changed the law Email: [email protected] to extend the right to ask for more flexible www.workingfamilies.org.uk working arrangements to all employees, and it is important to keep up to date with developments by checking the UNISON
21 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Carers UK A charity set up to help the millions of people who care for family or friends. They provide information and advice about caring alongside practical and emotional support for carers. Carers UK also campaigns to make life better for carers and influences policy makers, employers and service providers, to help them improve carers’ lives.
Carers UK 20 Great Dover Street London SE1 4LX Tel: 020 7378 4999
Adviceline Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm: 0808 808 7777 [email protected] www.carersuk.org
Grandparents Plus The national charity (England and Wales) that champions the vital role of grandparents and the wider family in children’s lives – especially when they take on the caring role in difficult family circumstances.
Grandparents Plus 18 Victoria Park Square Bethnal Green London E2 9PF Tel: 020 8981 8001 [email protected] Advice and information 0300 123 7015 [email protected] www.grandparentsplus.org.uk
22 Women and welfare reform
The government’s welfare reform and impact on young women who are unable universal credit will have a damaging effect on to remain in the family home, particularly women, their families and their lives. Already young women who may be subjected to the changes to working tax credit, requiring physical or sexual abuse, or LGBT women at least one person in the household to work excluded from their family home more than 24 hours per week, have meant that hundreds of thousands of women and • will introduce a benefits cap which children have lost out. To expect workers Women’s Aid have warned could lead to find additional working hours in a time of to the closure of women’s refuges and cuts and job losses was unrealistic, yet these emergency accommodation due to the families have been targeted for a significant necessarily high cost of providing such cut in their household income. services
Women rely more on tax credit and benefits • will introduce a benefits cap that will than men, in particular due to their caring inevitably lead to social cleansing of responsibilities, relative economic inequalities the areas where housing is the most and poverty. 92% of single parent families are expensive forcing families to either go women and are therefore more likely to be without the basics in order to pay their welfare dependant. The government’s welfare rent or fall into rent arrears and ultimately reforms, the benefit cap and the introduction be evicted. of universal credit will make many of the country’s poorest parents even worse off; this “Anyone who lives in private rented will push our children further into poverty. accommodation, who is trying to buy a first home, is trying to find a bigger The new welfare reform proposals: home for their family – or indeed • will cut household income for the anyone who has family members in that hundreds of thousands of women situation – will know that we are in a working in the public sector who are housing crisis.” affected by redundancy as a result of the government’s austerity measures. 80% of those losing their jobs are women, and the number of unemployed women now stands at a 25 year high
• as a result of the new under-occupancy rules, the so-called ‘bedroom tax’, will see housing benefit cut for people in social homes with unoccupied bedrooms which will disproportionately affect older and single women and lone mothers and parents who share care of their child, or whose children visit but are not part of the household
• will introduce payments to only one person in a household, threatening women’s financial security if their partner insists on being the person receiving payment and refuses to meet household bills, reinforcing the ‘male breadwinner’ model
• as a result of changes to housing allowances for people under 35, will
23 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
These changes will lead to debt and poverty, More information to many more women becoming unpaid UNISON carers and will put women at risk from violent and abusive relationships. Further, the • There for you evidence is that when money is short, women There for You offers a unique confidential often go without: women tend to be the advice and support service just ‘shock absorbers’ of poverty (source: London for members of UNISON and their School of Economics). The universal credit dependants. scheme will have a disproportionate impact www.unison.org.uk/there-for-you on low-income families, as money often runs out before the weekend and a single monthly Women’s Budget Group payment would make managing a family An independent organisation bringing together budget harder. individuals from academia, non-governmental organisations and trades unions to promote As a consequence of the coalition government gender equality through appropriate economic reducing the amount of childcare costs that policy. the state will cover for low income families, finding affordable childcare is an additional Email: [email protected] concern. www.wbg.org.uk
Campaign ideas The Fawcett Society The UK’s leading campaigning organisation • Raise awareness of the implication of the for women’s equality and rights – at home, at introduction of universal credit, the benefit work and in public life. cap, the shared accommodation rate and welfare reform. The Fawcett Society 11-12 The Oval • Campaign against the changes and London E2 9DT monitor their impact on UNISON Tel: 020 3137 0809 members. Email: [email protected] www.fawcettsociety.org.uk • Work with individual members, regional women’s committees and networks to • Women and the Economy campaign lobby government ministers about the www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/our-work/ effect the welfare reforms are having on campaigns/women-economy/ women and their families. Gingerbread • Liaise with local community organisations Providing advice and practical support and public sector alliances to support for single parents. They also campaign to those most in need, and campaign jointly improve the lives of all single parent families. to raise public awareness of the impact that this government’s welfare reforms Gingerbread are having on the most vulnerable in our 520 Highgate Studios society. 53-79 Highgate Road London NW5 1TL • Help ensure that members are aware of Tel: 020 7428 5420 the assistance available to them in crisis Single parents’ helpline: 0808 802 0925 via branch welfare officers or UNISON www.gingerbread.org.uk Welfare ‘There for You’. • Welfare and benefits • And don’t forget, when you are planning www.gingerbread.org.uk/content/656/Welfare- your campaign, to talk to co-workers and-benefits about the issues and recruit non-members into UNISON.
24 Raising the profile of women
The devaluing and exclusion of Campaign ideas women in society • Contact the Minister for Women and seek Under the coalition government women commitments to further women’s equality have faced attacks on their employment, and uphold and protect the gains that their terms and conditions, increasingly have been made. unaffordable costs of childcare, cuts to • Encourage women members to come working families tax credits, housing, into positions of leadership within welfare provision, and Sure Start to name UNISON, and to attend leadership and but a few. In addition, the National Women’s other courses, including lobbying skills, Commission, the body that engaged with use of local media, public speaking and government on women’s issues was closed assertiveness skills, as well as IT and down as it was deemed unnecessary. social networking skills which can be Just to reinforce that women are really not a useful for campaigning activities. priority for this government, the Minister for • Seek out and promote positive role Women role in government was sidelined to models for young women, especially the Department of Culture Media and Sport. those who contribute to delivery of public Women’s rights have never been easily won. services, who have made a positive Most, if not all have been as a consequence difference in their workplace, union or of years of struggle. Over the last hundred community and who contribute to political or so years, women have won the right to life. vote and have made progress on many other • Encourage women to become involved in workplace equality issues. However, this public life, such as working with Labour Tory led government are a sharp reminder Link or taking up public duties such as that women’s equality can all too quickly be becoming school governors or local eroded and rolled back. councillors.
The cuts are amounting to an unparalleled • Highlight the disproportionate impact of attack on the position of women in society, government policies for UNISON women with women prevented from fulfilling their members within other campaigns. potential and undermining the gains that women have made especially in balancing • Encourage discussion of the issues about employment and their caring responsibilities. occupational segregation and gender stereotyping in the workplace. Services for young women in particular need to be supported in order for them to achieve • Support and work with organisations such their potential. as Platform 51 and YWCA Scotland to defend services for young women and Lifelong learning and education of women is to help spread the message to young also key to increasing women’s confidence women about the positive value of trade and self-esteem which can lead to further unionism. learning and assist with career progression. • Work collaboratively with other relevant In spite of the continued existence of women’s organisations to politicise and discrimination against women and the organise women to challenge these barriers to women’s participation at all levels attacks. of society, women are continuing to make progress in taking up leadership roles. This • And don’t forget, when you are planning is important in not only challenging the your campaign, to talk to co-workers predominance of male power in our society, about the issues and recruit non- but also in providing positive role models for members into UNISON. young women.
25 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
More information women to play a full part in the Party, and to securing the election of more Labour women UNISON to public office at every level. • UNISON Learning Email: [email protected] The Learning and Organising Services www.lwn.org.uk (LAOS) co-ordinates trade union education and lifelong learning Fabian Women’s Network opportunities for members. This includes Aiming to bring people together to create training and development for union a thriving network for social and political reps as well as personal and career change, connect Fabian networks with Fabian development courses ranging from Women Parliamentarians and provide new Skills for Life through to professional ways in which women from all backgrounds qualifications. and sectors can engage in topical policy www.unison.org.uk/for-members/unison- debates. learning/ www.fabianwomen.co.uk • UNISON educational bursary scheme www.unison.org.uk/for-members/unison- Young Women’s Trust learning/financial-support/ Young Women’s Trust is the new name for Platform 51 ( which was the operating name The Fawcett Society of YWCA England and Wales). A society Fawcett is the UK’s leading campaigning which respects and listens to young women is organisation for women’s equality and rights – a better society for all of us. at home, at work and in public life. Young Women’s Trust The Fawcett Society CAN Mezzanine 11-12 The Oval 49-51 East Road London E2 9DT London N1 6AH Tel: 020 3137 0809 Tel: 020 7250 8339 Email: [email protected] www.fawcettsociety.org.uk www.youngwomenstrust.org
• Women and Power campaign YWCA Scotland Across the UK today, women are Working primarily for and with girls and dramatically underrepresented in young women aged 9 to 30 in Scotland, positions of power and influence – be it particularly where they face social, economic politics, business, media and in many or educational exclusion. others arenas. www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/ our-work/campaigns/women-power/ YWCA Scotland - National Office The Melting Pot, 5 Rose Street UK Feminista Edinburgh EH2 2PR A movement of ordinary women and men Tel: 0131 558 8000 campaigning for gender equality. E-mail: [email protected] www.ywcascotland.org UK Feminista United House Women’s role in the union North Road London Women are the foundation on which UNISON N7 9DP is built. There are many inspiring women in Tel: 0207 700 0948 our union structures, many of whom hold Email: [email protected] senior roles. The marches and the rallies that http://ukfeminista.org.uk we have organised through UNISON and the TUC have seen thousands of our women Labour Women’s Network members take to the streets to show that as An organisation of women members of the public sector workers and citizens we will Labour Party dedicated to supporting Labour fight a government that wants to erode the 26 whether that is at branch, regional or national “I have always level. It is our responsibility to pass on our been proud to knowledge to others. represent the Buddying and mentoring are valuable ways union’s members of nurturing new women activists without in Northern ‘throwing them in at the deep end’ of trade Ireland, and being union activity. It helps to allay fears about what is expected and helps women gain an elected president understanding of various trade union roles of UNISON is the before taking them on. By mentoring, women pinnacle for me as can be guided through trade union processes a lifetime trade unionist. I am honoured which can at first appear daunting. It is also to be trusted by the union to hold the an opportunity for those with experience at highest office at a time when we are local, regional and national levels to pass on their experience and knowledge to new facing unprecedented challenges... It activists and act (in a voluntary capacity) as is now more important than ever for an aide towards the organising approach people to belong to a trade union.” promoted by UNISON. Lucia McKeever, President UNISON has a proud record on working towards equality both in its internal structures and in its bargaining and campaigning quality of life for women and diminish our agenda. One of the key strategies for UNISON opportunities to achieve our potential. to achieve equality of representation and engagement within UNISON has been As a union, UNISON has to harness the proportionality. capability and enthusiasm of our women members; to build on those women activists Proportionality is defined as “the that we have and to develop new women. representation of women and men in Yet the low number of women active in their fair proportion to the relevant number of branches, particularly the number of low paid female and male members comprising the women is concerning. electorate”.
It is incumbent on us to nurture new women But much work is still to be done on achieving members to come forward as activists and and maintaining proportionality, particularly as leaders. Women’s experiences prepare to ensure the active involvement of low paid them for leading our campaigns. This includes women. taking the message out to our families and communities, rallying support for our causes There has never been a more important time and highlighting the reality of what the for women to be actively involved in UNISON; coalition government is doing and the attacks women involved in campaigning, in collective they are making to the fabric of our society. bargaining, and in negotiating on behalf of our Our strength is in our diversity. We are from all women members. types of families and all communities and we can speak to the whole of society. Campaign ideas We need to look at how we recruit stewards • Celebrate and promote the achievements that truly reflect the makeup of our of inspiring women within the union. membership. We must highlight the benefits • Encourage the use of workplace learning of being involved and how women’s voices to recognise and improve women’s must be heard loud and clear. abilities and opportunities, highlighting Experienced women need to be mentoring the benefits that UNISON training can and buddying new women to come through offer our female members.
27 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
• Encourage women to participate in self- CEDAW organised groups and young members organisation. In July 2013, the UK government was called to give evidence to the Convention on the • Promote and participate in the mentoring Elimination of all forms of Discrimination and buddying across UNISON. against Women (CEDAW). The CEDAW report highlighted a number of key areas of concern: • Encourage branches to promote and support women’s training - including − Austerity and women Women into Leadership training and − Legal aid and employment tribunal fees buddying and mentoring training courses - designed to provide women with − Abolition of the National Women’s campaigning, negotiating and organising Commission skills and involve them in all aspects of − The UK national strategy for the branch’s work. implementation of the Convention
• Campaign for the right of our women − Women only shortlists activists for facility time to perform their − Violence against women trade union duties. − Female genital mutilation • Raise the issue with regions and branches − Human trafficking about the need to actively work towards − Women into public life proportionality. − Employment and economic empowerment • And don’t forget, when you are planning − Health care your campaign, to talk to co-workers about the issues and recruit non-members − Women in prisons into UNISON. − Disadvantaged groups of women − Welfare reform More information UNISON UNISON and the TUC participated in the process of submitting a ‘shadow report’ • UNISON Learning along with partner NGOs and co-ordinated The Learning and Organising Services by the Women’s Resource Centre, to which (LAOS) co-ordinates trade union UNISON is affiliated. This shadow report education and lifelong learning drew attention to the government’s failings as opportunities for members. This includes identified in the CEDAW report, and work now training and development for union continues to put pressure on the government reps as well as personal and career to take the necessary action to meet the development courses ranging from recommendations. Skills for Life through to professional qualifications. Campaign ideas www.unison.org.uk/for-members/unison- • Raise awareness of the issues and the learning/ government’s failings on women’s issues.
WEA • Promote the recommendations of the Founded in 1903, the WEA (Workers’ CEDAW report and campaign for the Educational Association) is a charity and the implementation of the observations of UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult the UN Committee on the Elimination of education, delivering 9,500 part-time courses Discrimination against Women. for over 74,000 people each year in England and Scotland. • And don’t forget, when you are planning your campaign, to talk to co-workers For contact details for regional offices: about the issues and recruit non-members www.wea.org.uk/local into UNISON. www.wea.org.uk 28 “We’re proud to support this campaign to end an out of date objectification of women on behalf of the men and women who make up our union. Rupert Murdoch’s claim that working class people don’t care about page three is not only patronising, it is wrong. “Through unions, working class people have led the way in battling sexism and campaigning for equality. We’re going to show Rupert Murdoch exactly what we think.”
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary
More information underpin and legitimise gender inequality and violence against women by portraying women Committee on the Elimination of as objects and not real people. Discrimination Against Women This objectification of women is increasingly www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cedaw/pages/ encroaching into our homes by means of cedawindex.aspx digital, free view and satellite television, with pornography and ‘sex chat’ lines that are • Providing information about the aired without restrictions. It would appear that Convention, the Optional Protocol and very little is being done to protect our integrity the work of the Committee up until 31 as our society becomes desensitised to this December 2007. bombardment from the sex industry. www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/ Many forms of media are presented as family Women’s Resource Centre friendly, yet contain unacceptable portrayals A charity which supports women’s and images of women. This can bring sexism organisations to be more effective and into the family domain, with a danger of sustainable. They also lobby decision makers normalising pornographic images. It is also on behalf of the women’s not-for-profit sector worrying that such publications are available for improved representation and funding. and accessible in our libraries, hospitals and other public buildings. Women’s Resource Centre United House The ‘No More Page 3’ campaign and petition North Road is calling on the editor of The Sun newspaper London N7 9DP to remove the semi-naked models on ‘page Tel: 020 7697 3450 3’. The paper’s editor has argued that page 3 Email: [email protected] is a ‘British institution’ and harmless fun. But www.wrc.org.uk the ‘drip, drip’ effect of young women being objectified and humiliated daily in Britain’s • CEDAW most widely read newspaper sets the cultural http://thewomensresourcecentre.org.uk/our- conditions for wider issues of sex inequality work/cedaw and continued violence. Women in the media With no statutory sex education around the harms of pornography, and the normalisation The growing sexualisation of women and of this type of material in society, children girls in the media promotes attitudes which and teenagers are getting most of their
29 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
sex education from porn. It is no surprise, More information therefore, that sexual bullying in schools No More Page 3 is on the increase. It is time to ask high The campaign started in summer 2012 when street retailers to lose the ‘lads mags’ that Lucy Holmes found she couldn’t stop thinking have moved soft porn into the mainstream, about the fact that the largest female image in marketing themselves as ‘lifestyle’. ‘The Sun’ was of a young woman showing her Addressing the levels of sexism in the media breasts for men, even though Jessica Ennis and other British institutions is long overdue. had just won her gold Olympic medal. The revelations concerning the abhorrent http://nomorepage3.org/ behaviour and conduct of Jimmy Saville and the stream of testimonies from many women Lose the Lads Mags working in the media and broadcasting industry today bring into sharp focus that The campaign calling on high-street sexism and sexual harassment is not a thing retailers to lose the lads’ mags. They’re of the past or something that just happened in sexist, harmful and can breach equality the 70s. law. Co-ordinated by UK Feminista and Object, it is supported by trade unions, The success of the ‘No More Page 3’ and anti-violence organisations, equality other campaigns could be a significant groups, lawyers and shareholders. catalyst for change. www.losetheladsmags.org.uk Campaign ideas UK Feminista • Encourage wider support amongst the A movement of ordinary women and men membership for the ‘No More Page 3’ campaigning for gender equality. and ‘Lose the Lad’s Mags’ campaigns by circulating information to branches via UK Feminista regional women’s groups and committees. Southbank House Black Prince Road • Campaign to improve the regulation of London lap dancing clubs and to stop them being SE1 7SJ opened in your area. Tel: 0207 061 6220 Email: [email protected] • Lobby MPs and parliamentary groups for http://ukfeminista.org.uk/ improved media regulation. Object • Write to newsagents or other shops to Challenging ‘sex object culture’ – the sexual request that they classify lads’ mags objectification of women through lads’ mags, as soft porn rather than as lifestyle lap dancing clubs or sexist advertising. magazines, and request that they do not display them close to children’s literature. Object Po Box 63639 • Lobby employers to ensure that London publications available within public SW9 1BQ buildings, such as libraries and hospitals www.object.org.uk do not include material portraying a sexualised depiction of women. Child Eyes
• Work alongside groups to specifically Child Eyes is campaigning to stop sexualised, target television cable and satellite sexist and damaging images being displayed broadcasting companies. at child height in shops and public spaces.
• And don’t forget, when you are planning Email: [email protected] your campaign, to talk to co-workers www.childeyes.org about the issues and recruit non-members into UNISON. 30 The Everyday Sexism Project • Raise awareness of the implications of voting for UKIP. The Everyday Sexism Project exists to catalogue instances of sexism experienced by • And don’t forget, when you are planning women on a day to day basis. your campaign, to talk to co-workers about the issues and recruit non- http://everydaysexism.com/ members into UNISON.
Why women should vote More information Statistics show that many women do not use The Fawcett Society their vote and do not feel that casting their The UK’s leading campaigning organisation vote is important. Local and general elections for women’s equality and rights – at home, at provide a real opportunity for women to show work and in public life. the government how they feel about the attack on their jobs, services and pensions The Fawcett Society by placing their vote and making a difference. 11-12 The Oval While many women may think they don’t ‘do’ London E2 9DT politics, they do care about issues that are Tel: 020 3137 0809 political – education, crime, the environment, health care and safer neighbourhoods. Email: [email protected] www.fawcettsociety.org.uk With the upsurge of the BNP and other far- right groups such as the English Defence • General Election 2015 League in our communities, it is more www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/our-work/ important than ever that women exercise their campaigns/general-election-2015-fawcetts- right to vote. The BNP’s attitudes to Black plans/ workers, migrant workers and asylum seekers Hope Not Hate are well known. Less well known is their Mobilising everyone opposed to the British attitude towards women. The BNP believes National Party’s (BNP) and English Defence that hard-won rights for women discriminate League (EDL) politics of hate. It was formed against men. in 2004 as a positive antidote to the BNP Also the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and has the support of the Daily Mirror, trade and its supporters have policies which unions, celebrities and community groups would adversely impact on many of the across the country. recommendations in the report from Hope Not Hate the UN Committee on the Elimination of PO Box 67476 Discrimination against Women within Great London NW3 9RF Britain and Northern Ireland, including their Tel: 020 7681 8660 policies on workers’ rights and public sector www.hopenothate.org.uk spending, should they come into power at local, regional or national level.
Campaign ideas • Produce and distribute information on why women should vote and encourage “Because of the work done by Hope women members to use their vote. Not Hate, UNISON and others, many • Encourage members to become individual thousand more voters turned out to members of anti-fascist organisations keep the BNP where they belong – in such as Hope Not Hate. the gutter. We can do that again, we • Work with other self-organised groups on can turn out voters, women voters, for joint campaigning work against the BNP public services.” and the far-right. 31 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Unite Against Fascism Mary Seacole – icon for This group believes that the dangers of the far UNISON women right and groups like the BNP and EDL require a strong and united response from all those Mary Seacole is an icon for UNISON women. dedicated to freedom and democracy. She was a woman who did not give up in the face of discrimination or hardship. UNISON Unite Against Fascism is supporting the appeal to raise funds PO BOX 72710 towards a permanent statue of Mary Seacole London to be erected in the grounds of St Thomas’s SW19 9GX hospital in London in order to keep Mary http://uaf.org.uk/ Seacole’s memory in the public eye.
Searchlight Mary Seacole was born Mary Jane Grant Opposing racism and fascism in Britain and in 1805 to a free black Jamaican woman. abroad, gathering and analysing intelligence Her mother ran a boarding house for on the far right. Searchlight exposes the British soldiers and sailors in the capital fascists and racists’ activities and alerts the city, Kingston. Her mother was known as antifascist community to our opponents’ a ‘doctoress’ and passed on much of her intentions, plans and trends. knowledge of healing, using the arts of Creole medicine. Searchlight Magazine Ltd PO Box 1576 On reaching the age of fifty, Mary was Ilford IG5 0NG concerned about the welfare of soldiers she www.searchlightmagazine.com had known in Kingston, who were serving in the Crimean War. Mary offered her own “Collectively we are strong, and in order services to support the nursing efforts of to change the face of discrimination Florence Nightingale but was rejected due to and violence against all people, we racial discrimination. need to engage with our democratic Rather than return home full of bitterness processes to challenge discrimination about her rejection and treatment, Mary then in all its forms and give a clear mandate made her own way to Turkey. There, she set to our chosen politicians that it is not ok up the British hotel where she provided food to hide behind governmental or party and care for the soldiers who she referred to rhetoric.” as ‘my sons’.
32 After the war, Mary was awarded several Friends of Mary Seacole medals for her bravery. She died at the age of Set up by the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue seventy six and is buried in St Mary’s Catholic Appeal in response to the many individuals Cemetery, Kensal Green in London. But unlike and organisations who wish to make a regular Florence Nightingale, this amazing woman annual donation and receive updates about still does not have a permanent memorial the progress of the Appeal, including an to her bravery and perseverance in the face e-newsletter of discouragement and discrimination. The UK government even recently took steps www.justgiving.com/friendsofmaryseacole to remove her from the school national curriculum only changing their plans after public pressure.
Campaign ideas • Highlight the achievements of Mary Seacole and the Memorial Campaign to members, branches and committees.
• Encourage networking via all regional equality officers to highlight this campaign to all self organised groups (SOGs) and branches especially during Black History Month in October each year.
• Urge branches, regions and other self organised groups to contribute donations and partner with other groups and organisations in fundraising activities.
• And don’t forget, when you are planning your campaign, to talk to co-workers about the issues and recruit non- members into UNISON.
More information Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal The Mary Seacole Memorial will capture the spirit of Mary and reflect her great achievements, remind the public of the importance of the nursing profession, remind the public of Britain’s greatest black heroine who gave her life’s work in support of others.
To realise this wonderful opportunity, to celebrate our past and inspire future generations, the appeal needs to raise £500,000.
Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal c/o Royal College of Nursing 20 Cavendish Square London W1G 0RN [email protected] www.maryseacoleappeal.org.uk
33 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Women as parents and carers
Pregnancy, maternity and Meanwhile the lack of affordable childcare parental rights remains one of the key issues for women members, if they are to be effectively enabled In this time of austerity measures, maternity, to have access to full working lives. Increased adoption, surrogacy and parental provisions government support for working parents are often being targeted by employers seeking is needed as well as better provision by to make savings in their budgets, particularly employers. for those members working in the community and voluntary sector. At the same time, maternity services themselves are also under threat, with a Pregnancy discrimination already affects shortfall in the number of trained midwives tens of thousands of women each year, leading to reduced staffing on maternity with pregnant women and women returning wards; cuts to community services; lack of from maternity leave often being unfairly training for staff; cuts in postnatal services selected for redundancy even though there is which may lead to a drop in breastfeeding legislation in place designed to protect them. rates and an increase in undiagnosed Moreover, women returning from maternity postnatal depression. leave find that flexible working requests are increasingly refused without proper In addition to this, women entering into consideration of the feasibility of part-time surrogacy or adoption arrangements, or those working or job-shares. In many cases little undergoing assisted conception treatment, provision is made for a re-introduction to work particularly LGBT women, also experience which can make returning to work difficult discrimination and unfavourable treatment in and in some cases traumatic, especially the workplace. for mothers dealing with health problems including postnatal depression. Despite surrogacy being legal in the United Kingdom, the intended parents have few Pregnant women and those on or returning legal rights unless they happen to be male. from maternity leave are often unable to An intended father can gain shared parental compete with colleagues when restructures responsibility as soon as the child is born occur. Recent reports show that increasingly by registering the child in his name, naming professional women drop out of their careers him as the father on the birth certificate or are sidelined because of maternity. Many or by immediate application for a parental women take a part-time position when they responsibility agreement. return from maternity leave, not always because they want to spend more time An intended mother however has to wait six with their children but often because of the weeks before they can apply to the courts financial burden of costly childcare and the for a parental order to give them full and inflexible approach of employers. permanent parental rights over the child. This can be a very lengthy process.
The government’s announcement that it intends to extend adoption leave and pay rights to parents who receive a child through surrogacy, and who intend to apply for a parental order is welcomed. This “UNISON has co-sponsored Maternity announcement is a victory for UNISON which Action’s ‘Valuing Maternity’ campaign, has been campaigning, lobbying, negotiating and continues to work with Maternity and pursuing legal cases on behalf of Action and others to combat pregnancy members affected by this unfair loophole in discrimination, improve maternity rights the law. But intended mothers should have rights on a par with maternity rather than and to secure breastfeeding rights for adoptive rights, which would also allow for mothers in the workplace.” time off for pre-natal appointments and the birth of the child.
34 Campaign ideas • Family friendly working www.unison.org.uk/knowledge/employment- • Lobby the government for further rights/family-friendly-working/overview/ improvements in maternity and parental allowances and leave, improved maternity • Maternity services to support a sale and healthy www.unison.org.uk/knowledge/employment- pregnancy, and universal affordable rights/maternity-leave/overview/ childcare. Working families • Encourage Labour to support the legal The UK’s leading work-life balance right for both parents to have parental organisation. The charity helps working responsibility from birth in surrogacy parents and carers and their employers arrangements and for maternity rights for find a better balance between responsibilities the intended mother, and to make sure at home and work. it is part of the legislative programme of Working Families future Labour governments. Cambridge House • Negotiate with employers for 1 Addington Square improvements to local terms and London SE5 0HF conditions, in excess of the statutory Tel: 020 7253 7243 minimums. Freephone helpline for low income families: • Provide support to women returning 0300 012 0312 to work after maternity leave and on Email: [email protected] negotiating policies on Keeping In Touch www.workingfamilies.org.uk days. Gingerbread • Negotiate with employers to exclude Providing advice and practical support IVF and assisted fertility treatment from for single parents. They also campaign to sickness absence procedures. improve the lives of all single parent families.
• Raise awareness among members of the Gingerbread rights of all parents, and the threat to the 520 Highgate Studios existing provisions. 53-79 Highgate Road London NW5 1TL • Promote and support the Gingerbread Tel: 020 7428 5420 Make it Work campaign and other Single parents’ helpline: 0808 802 0925 appropriate initiatives that seek to www.gingerbread.org.uk improve childcare provision and lower the costs of childcare, whilst protecting the Child Poverty Action Group terms and conditions of staff working the A charity seeking a society where all children childcare sector. can enjoy their childhoods and have fair chances in life to reach their full potential • And don’t forget, when you are planning campaign. They campaign and lobby to make your campaign, to talk to co-workers this a reality, and maximise family incomes about the issues and recruit non- through welfare rights work, publications and members into UNISON. training.
More information Child Poverty Action Group 94 White Lion Street UNISON London N1 9PF Information is available to support pregnant Tel: 020 7837 7979 women and new mothers, and to give advice Email: [email protected] on your rights during pregnancy on the www.cpag.org.uk website.
35 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Maternity Action support available for breastfeeding at work or Working to end inequality and promote the outside the home. health and well-being of all pregnant women, their partners and children from before The Department of Health recommends conception through to the child’s early years. that babies are exclusively breastfed for six months. The NHS Infant Feeding Survey Maternity Action published in 2012 shows that the prevalence 52-54 Featherstone Street of breastfeeding fell from 81% at birth to 69% London EC1Y 8RT at one week, and to 55% at six weeks. At six Tel: 020 7253 2288 months, just over a third of mothers (34%) www.maternityaction.org.uk were still breastfeeding. Of the mothers who had stopped breastfeeding by the time that • Valuing maternity campaign babies were around eight to ten months old, Valuing maternity campaign is calling for over three in five (63%) said that they would job security for all women during have liked to have breastfed for longer. pregnancy and maternity, maternity and parental leave that promotes real equality, UNISON believes that women must be and services to support a safe and comfortable breastfeeding in public, and that healthy pregnancy. suitable facilities should be available to enable http://valuingmaternity.org this. The taboo on women breastfeeding in public is an example of the sexualisation Family and Childcare Trust of women’s bodies – breasts can only be Family and Childcare Trust aims to make regarded as objects that arouse rather than in the UK a better place for families, through their natural function of feeding a baby. research, campaigning and information provision, and working with government, Breastfeeding at work: It is important employers and parents to reduce pressures that if a mother chooses to breastfeed, on family life. she is encouraged and supported to continue breastfeeding after she returns Family and Childcare Trust to work. Employers must be aware of The Bridge their responsibility to ensure that women 81 Southwark Bridge Road returning to work after maternity leave who London SE1 0NQ are breastfeeding should be given adequate Tel: 020 7940 7510 breaks to rest and express milk and have a Email: [email protected] proper workplace risk assessment, taking the www.familyandchildcaretrust.org fact they are breastfeeding into account.
NCT (National Childcare Trust) A major campaign issue for advocates of The UK’s largest charity for parents, breastfeeding is the tactics that baby food campaigning as the voice for parents on the companies use to encourage women to use issues they care about. They give parents their products. Often it can be argued that accurate, impartial information so that they this advertising goes against the International can decide what’s best for their family, and Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. they can introduce them to a network of Promotion of infant formula in the general local parents to gain practical and emotional media or in shops is against UK law. support. In addition, the use of controversial chemical, Helpline 0300 330 0700 Bisphenol-A (commonly abbreviated to BPA) www.nct.org.uk in baby bottles is still available in the UK, despite clear scientific evidence linking even Breastfeeding low level exposure to increased risk of breast UNISON supports a woman’s right to decide cancer and other chronic conditions. whether she breastfeeds, and believes that the choice should be a genuine one, with
36 “In the United States, bottles containing and young child feeding. They work within a BPA were removed from sale last year. global network to strengthen independent, In Canada, the government are now transparent and effective controls on the marketing of the baby feeding industry. taking similar action. There can be no excuse for our government not doing Baby Milk Action the same, and we need them to take 34 Trumpington Street action now to ban the use of BPA in the Cambridge CB2 1QY Tel: 01223 464420 making of baby bottles, food containers Email: [email protected] and formula tins. Not waiting, not www.babymilkaction.org listening to the big business lobby, not putting profits before health.” The Breastfeeding Manifesto The Manifesto was produced in 2006 by National women’s conference over twenty UK organisations working to improve awareness of the health benefits of Campaign ideas breastfeeding and its role in reducing health inequalities. More than 30 organisations • Work with the coalition members of the have added their support to the Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Manifesto to produce and Manifesto and in doing so have joined the distribute positive images as widely as Breastfeeding Manifesto Coalition. possible. Email: [email protected] • Campaign to pressure the government www.breastfeedingmanifesto.org.uk to tackle the aggressive marketing techniques used by infant formula Baby Feeding Law Group companies. Working to bring UK baby food laws into line with international regulations by • Campaign for the government to adopt complying with the International Code of the full International Code of Marketing of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which Breast Milk Substitutes. is an indispensable tool used to protect and • Supply details of breastfeeding support promote breastfeeding. groups, the benefits of breastfeeding, and www.babyfeedinglawgroup.org.uk the details of employers’ responsibilities to women who are breastfeeding. No more BPA In 2010, Breast Cancer UK was at the • Remind employers of employers’ forefront of a successful campaign to ban the responsibilities to women who are use of BPA in baby bottles across the EU. breastfeeding when they return to work. They are now calling on the EU to ban the • Lobby the government asking them to use of BPA in all food and drink products and support the campaign to end the use of replace it with a safer alternative. BPA in all products intended to come into No More BPA Campaign contact with our food and drinks. Breast Cancer UK • And don’t forget, when you are planning BM Box 7767 your campaign, to talk to co-workers London about the issues and recruit non- WC1N 3XX members into UNISON. Tel: 0845 680 1322 Email: [email protected] More information www.nomorebpa.org.uk Baby Milk Action A non-profit organisation which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant
37 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Ending violence against women
Violence against women is a major as the police, NHS, local government and campaigning issue for UNISON. We campaign social services. It is vital that members of staff to increase the rate of reporting it as a crime, can identify the different aspects of domestic and to improve the criminal justice system so abuse and the impact that it has on both that more perpetrators are punished. women and children. This could then lead to women suffering from domestic abuse Under international human rights obligations, receiving an informed and proactive response including recommendations under CEDAW such as being signposted to supportive and the European Convention on Human organisations which could thus potentially Rights (Articles 2,3,8), states have a both save lives and support those women responsibility to act with due diligence, experiencing abuse. that is with due care and effort, to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of all women Research shows that the most dangerous within their jurisdiction. But cuts to services, time for a victim of domestic violence is when and changes to the legal aid criteria, mean they are considering leaving the family home that the government is failing to fulfil those or have just left it. But cuts in public spending obligations. are having a detrimental impact on services which are reliant on funding such as women’s Domestic abuse refuges. Violence against women services are essential for women to access safety, One in four women will be victims of domestic justice and to rebuild their lives. Authorities violence in their life time, with women being are increasingly adopting a ‘one size fits all’ at great risk of repeat victimisation and approach, denying the need for specialist serious injury. 89% of those suffering four or services for LGBT women and Black women. more incidents are women. One incident of domestic violence is reported to the police “For more than 15 years, UNISON has every minute. On average two women a week are killed by a current or former male partner. been campaigning for recognition of Domestic violence remains chronically under the impact that domestic abuse has on reported. women’s working lives. With more than one million women members working Violence affects the in the public sector in the UK, our trade lives of millions of women worldwide, in union has led the way in negotiating all socio-economic and workplace policies which support educational classes. those experiencing abuse, whilst at the It cuts across cultural same time working with government and religious barriers, to change the legislation governing impeding the right of domestic abuse and campaigning women to participate fully in society. with voluntary sector organisations to protect the services which support the Although men and victims. boys are also the targets of violence, in Branches across the UK have now certain forms of aggression – such as intimate negotiated workplace policies to partner violence and sexual violence – the support those experiencing domestic majority of victims (and fatalities) are female, while the vast majority of perpetrators are abuse, and our first guide ‘Raise the male. In a sexist society, male violence Roof’ was groundbreaking in its time. against women plays a particular role in Government, NHS, local government limiting the participation of women in all areas and other public sector employers have of social life, including trade union activity. signed up to the principles we first Domestic abuse training should become raised all those years ago.” statutory in public sector organisations such 38 Domestic abuse affects women from all ethnic assessment, management and a co-ordinated groups, however the form the abuse takes response is lacking, putting women’s lives at may vary. In some communities, for example, risk. Even where perpetrators are convicted, domestic violence may be perpetrated by sentences are often short and few receive any extended family members, or it may include treatment to reduce the risk of re-offending. forced marriage, or female genital mutilation. In addition breaches of restraining orders are Women from Black communities may also not treated seriously. be more isolated, or may have to overcome religious and cultural pressures, and they may Latest figures show that more than 80% of be afraid of bringing shame onto their ‘family the victims of stalking are women, and over honour’. 70% of the perpetrators are men, most of them known to their victims either as previous For women in an abusive relationship, the partners or acquaintances, including those workplace is an important protective factor. It targeted because their stalker wrongly offers time away from the abuser, space for believes that a professional relationship is women to be themselves and valued for their personal. Whatever the origin, stalking is skills and abilities, a source of income that without doubt a gendered crime. provides some autonomy and independence and communication with work colleagues As a result of a stalking law reform campaign, that reduces isolation. It should also be able two new offences of stalking have been to provide support to make a disclosure and enacted, but women are still not being seek help, but, as a TUC survey showed, too adequately supported, nor are cases being often women suffer in silence – too afraid, or taken seriously, despite high profile media perhaps too ashamed to tell their employer. cases of women who have been stalked and But women are more likely to turn to a murdered, and failures being identified in the trusted union rep, and with violence at home way their cases were handled. undoubtedly impacting on job performance, it is important that victims/survivors have a Rape union on their side. Rape culture is endemic in the UK. January 2013 statistics from the Office for National The ability for women to remain in Statistics show that approximately 85,000 employment whilst experiencing domestic women are raped on average in England and abuse relies on employers having robust Wales every year. Over 400,000 women are domestic violence policies, which managers sexually assaulted each year. 1 in 5 women are aware of and remain vigilant in (aged 16 - 59) has experienced some form of implementing. sexual violence since the age of 16. However the right to safety and justice is Rape victims in court are still routinely often denied to employed women because interrogated about their sexual history, what of restrictions on access to legal aid, the they were wearing and how much they had discriminatory practice in the application of had to drink when they were raped. Rape is housing benefit and restrictions on access to always the responsibility of the perpetrator, much of the refuge accommodation. not the victim. Yet some men on the left continue to reinforce negative attitudes about Stalking rape survivors, and to prop up sexism and According to the British Crime Survey there misogyny by contributing to a blame culture are approximately 120,000 predominantly that holds women responsible for the crimes vulnerable female victims of stalking each of rape and sexual violence committed year; however less than half of these cases against them. are recorded as crimes. When it is reported there is a lack of understanding and low Contrary to popular myth, the majority of priority is given to cases by the criminal victims (more than 80%) know their attacker. justice system. In many cases the pattern Rape conviction rates vary between different of stalking is missed and effective risk police forces across the country. For every
39 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
• Negotiate a workplace domestic abuse policy – a model policy is available from the UNISON website: www.unison.org.uk/ about/our-organisation/member-groups/ women/resources/ • Ensure that any policies negotiated with employers are sensitive to the particular needs and circumstances of women – particularly on issues such as mental health, self-harm and suicide that are often related to violence and sexual abuse. • Champion the work of community and voluntary organisations dealing with the issue of domestic abuse and stalking, and develop relationships with external domestic abuse organisations to provide information to members. • Encourage employers to hold details of relevant women’s organisations, local charities, informal social groups, religious groups and inter-governmental organisations in order to signpost those rape reported, many more are not reported. affected by domestic abuse and stalking. Many local authorities have no specialised support services to help the victims of rape. • Highlight the barriers for working women The number of Rape Crisis centres has fallen, accessing support to assist them to leave although the demand for their services is huge abusive relationships, including denying and there are long waiting lists to access the women access to safe accommodation services provided. and the impact of ‘means tested’ benefits including legal aid provision. Women who have been raped may have attendance and performance issues at • Challenge proposals to cut specialist work as the long-term consequences of services for women experiencing sexual violence may include post-traumatic domestic abuse. stress disorder, anxiety and panic attacks, • Encourage employers to sign up to the depression, social phobia, substance abuse, Department of Health Responsibility obesity, eating disorders, self harm and Deal pledge for organisations wishing suicide. UNISON can help by negotiating to support employees experiencing workplace policies to support victims of domestic violence. domestic violence and sexual violence. • Offer training for activists to make them Campaign ideas: aware of domestic violence policies in their workplace, and how these can be • Use the UNISON poster, Don’t Look the used to support members. Other Way, online catalogue stock no 2539 in your workplace and elsewhere to • Promote the UNISON health and safety raise awareness of the issues. guidance on violence at work It’s not part of the job, online catalogue stock no • Publicise to your members the help that 1346 www.unison.org.uk/catalogue/21696 is available to them through UNISON’s charity There for You. • Encourage your branch to make contact with your local Rape Crisis centre, to
40 build alliances and work collaboratively; • And don’t forget, when you are planning encourage women members to become your campaign, to talk to co-workers involved as volunteers, support workers about the issues and recruit non- or in fund raising. members into UNISON.
• Lobby the government for improved More information funding for Rape Crisis centres and on strengthening the law on rape. UNISON
• Lobby government to prevent further cuts • There for you to funding for domestic abuse services There for You offers a unique confidential and to ring-fence budgets. advice and support service just for members of UNISON and their • Request equality impact assessments dependants. from local authorities where services are being denied funds. www.unison.org.uk/get-help/help-with- problems-at-home/there-for-you/ • Raise awareness of the effects of rape and sexual violence on women, and End Violence Against Women Coalition provide information for members at their (EVAW) branches on where to seek help if they A unique coalition of organisations and become victims of rape. individuals campaigning to end all forms of violence against women. They lobby all levels • Support the White Ribbon campaign, of government in the UK, and challenge the which focuses on men speaking out wider cultural attitudes that tolerate and and educating men and boys on ending condone violence against women. violence against women. End Violence Against Women Coalition • Participate in a local Reclaim the Night 17–25 New Inn Yard march – or if there isn’t one near you, London EC2A 3EA organise one – held each November to Tel: 020 7033 1559 raise the issue of violence against women Email: [email protected] and make the point that women have the www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk right to feel safe on the streets at night. Women’s Aid • Work with relevant organisations to The key national charity working to end campaign for: domestic violence against women and children. It supports a network of over 500 – a better sentencing policy domestic and sexual violence services across – continued reform of the judicial the UK. process to improve reporting and Women’s Aid Federation of England, Head conviction rates Office – a national violence against women PO BOX 391 strategy Bristol BS99 7WS tel: 0117 944 44 11 – proper funding for Rape Crisis email: [email protected] centres. Freephone 24 hr National domestic violence helpline • Lobby benefits of statutory training on Tel: 0808 2000 247 domestic abuse within the public sector. Email: [email protected] www.womensaid.org.uk • Encourage UNISON spokespeople to refuse to share a platform with speakers Scottish Women’s Aid who contribute to rape culture by blaming The lead organisation in Scotland working and undermining rape victims. towards the prevention of domestic abuse.
41 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Scottish Women’s Aid Million Women Rise (VAW) 2nd Floor, This movement is made up of thousands 132 Rose Street of women who are united by outrage at the Edinburgh EH2 3JD continued daily, hourly, minute-by-minute Tel: 0131 226 6606 individual and institutionalised male violence Domestic abuse helpline: 0800 027 1234 enacted against women worldwide. www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk Tel: 07 727 419 634 Email: [email protected] Refuge The charity is committed to a world where www.millionwomenrise.com domestic violence is not tolerated and where women and children can live in safety. One Billion Rising Tel: 020 7395 7700 An international coalition of campaigners Email: [email protected] speaking out for action to tackle violence www.refuge.org.uk against girls and women across the world. It first took place on 14 February 2013 to Rape Crisis celebrate the 15th Anniversary of V-day, the Rape Crisis (England and Wales) is a global movement to end violence against registered charity and the national umbrella women and girls. organisation for Rape Crisis Centres across the country. It campaigns continuously to http://onebillionrising.org raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual Eaves violence and, in particular, it highlights the A London-based charity that provides support importance and need for appropriate, high- and associated services for women who quality and specialised support. have experienced violence to enable them to BCM Box 4444 recover and regain independence. London WC1N 3XX Eaves Email: [email protected] Unit CC01 Canterbury Court Freephone helpline: 0808 802 9999 Kennington Business Park www.rapecrisis.org.uk 1-3 Brixton Road Rape Crisis Scotland London SW9 6DE The national office for the rape crisis Tel: 020 7735 2062 movement in Scotland. Fax: 020 7820 8907 General enquiries: RCS [email protected] 46 Bath Street www.eavesforwomen.org.uk Glasgow G2 1HG Paladin Tel: 0141 331 4180 Paladin assists high risk victims of stalking Fax and minicom: 0141 332 2168 (Office) throughout England and Wales. A number of 0141 353 3091 (Helpline) Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers Email: [email protected] (ISACs) ensure high risk victims of stalking are www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk supported and that a coordinated community response is developed locally to keep victims Rights of Women and their children safe. Providing guidance for law and policy makers and other organisations and institutions, and Paladin working to put women’s rights on the public P.O. Box 64640 policy agenda. London SW8 9DJ www.rightsofwomen.org.uk Email: [email protected] Tel: 0207 840 8960 http://paladinservice.co.uk
42 Equality Now Zero Tolerance An organisation that advocates for the human A charity working to tackle the causes rights of women and girls around the world of men’s violence against women based by raising international visibility of individual in Scotland. They work with individuals, cases of abuse, mobilising public support communities, women’s and men’s through its global membership, and wielding organisations, schools, the media and others strategic political pressure to ensure that to address the causes of violence against governments enact or enforce laws and women, and bring about change. policies that uphold the rights of women and girls. The Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust 1 Papermill Wynd Equality Now London Office Edinburgh 1 Birdcage Walk EH7 4QL London SW1H 9JJ Tel: 0131 556 7365 Tel: 020 7304 6902 www.zerotolerance.org.uk Email: [email protected] www.equalitynow.org Women’s Resource Centre A charity which supports women’s Reclaim the Night organisations to be more effective and The Reclaim the Night march gives women a sustainable. They also lobby decision makers voice and a chance to reclaim the streets at on behalf of the women’s not-for-profit sector night on a safe and empowering event. The for improved representation and funding. aim is to put the issue of our safety on the agenda for this night and every day. Marchers Women’s Resource Centre demand the right to live without the fear or United House reality of rape and male violence, and an end North Road to male violence against women. London N7 9DP www.reclaimthenight.co.uk Tel: 020 7697 3450 Email: [email protected] White Ribbon Campaign www.wrc.org.uk The UK branch of the global campaign to ensure men take more responsibility for Forced marriages reducing the level of violence against women. Domestic abuse takes many forms. However, White Ribbon House the issue of forced marriage and honour 1 New Road based violence places women, children and Mytholmroyd vulnerable adults at risk of rape, physical and West Yorkshire mental harm and can end in murder. HX7 5DZ Tel: 01422 886545 A forced marriage is not the same as an Email: [email protected] arranged marriage where you have a choice www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk as to whether to accept the arrangement or not. The tradition of arranged marriages Imkaan has operated successfully within many A UK-based, black feminist organisation communities and countries for a long time. dedicated to addressing violence against women and girls. Forced marriages are where the individual (usually a woman) is coerced into marrying Imkaan someone against their will. We must be able Tindlemanor to ensure that those women and young girls 52-54 Featherstone Street who may be subjected to such a marriage are London EC1Y 8RT sure of their rights and what help is available Tel: 020 7842 8525 to them to allow them to make informed Email: [email protected] choices. http://imkaan.org.uk/ 43 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
• Produce information for branches and “What is the meaning of our efforts to for the wider union on the impact that combat sexual harassment and male forced marriages have on individuals and what interventions can be used to violence in the home, the workplace, protect women and young girls who find and on the streets if men can buy the themselves in such situations. right to perpetrate these very same acts against women and girls in prostitution? • Promote the 3 short films ‘The Right to Choose’ which have been produced by Is this what we want? For generations the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of boys to grow up thinking that it is which are designed to show the signs of what may happen prior to the forced normal for men to have entitlement over marriage taking place. women as sexual commodities? And for http://tve.org/films/the-right-to-choose/ our daughters and granddaughters to index.html grow up thinking that prostitution is just • And don’t forget, when you are planning another job?” your campaign, to talk to co-workers National delegate conference about the issues and recruit non- members into UNISON.
In 2011 the Forced Marriage unit of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office gave advice and support to 1,468 people on this matter. More information They work with embassy staff across the End Violence Against Women Coalition world to rescue those who have been lured or (EVAW) forced abroad to be forcibly married. A unique coalition of organisations and individuals campaigning to end all forms of Karma Nirvana’s ‘Honour Network’, the violence against women. They lobby all levels first national helpline for victims of forced of government in the UK, and challenge the marriages and so called honour violence, wider cultural attitudes that tolerate and regularly sees a spike in calls in the run up condone violence against women. to the summer holidays, some are from girls saying they fear they will be married off End Violence Against Women Coalition abroad. 17–25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA Campaign ideas Tel: 020 7033 1559 Email: [email protected] • Raise the awareness of the difference www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk between a forced marriage and an arranged marriage, and of the Forced Karma Nirvana Marriages Act that allows local authorities A registered charity that supports victims and members of the public to apply for an and survivors of forced marriage and honour injunction if they think a child is at risk of based abuse. The words Karma Nirvana being taken out of the country. simply mean ‘Peace and Enlightenment’ as they hope victims will achieve this through • Work with organisations such as Karma their work. Nirvana to inform members of their rights and what they can do to protect Karma Nirvana themselves. PO BOX 515 Leeds LS6 9DW • Work with local domestic violence groups Tel: 0800 5999247 to support the work they are doing in www.karmanirvana.org.uk relation to forced marriages.
• 44 An international perspective Campaign ideas UNISON has a role to play in raising • Raise awareness of the issues. awareness of the atrocities which are • Lobby the UK government to ensure that committed against women across the globe. their strategy on ending violence against women includes measures to address Rape and sexual violence continue to be used ‘corrective rape’ at an international level. as weapons of war, with the United Nations (UN) Security Council reporting that “women • Raise awareness of the deteriorating and girls are particularly targeted by the use human rights situation in Russia and of of sexual violence, including as a tactic of war the attempts to promote the ‘traditional to humiliate, dominate, instil fear in, disperse values’ agenda in the UN. and/or forcibly relocate civilian members of a community or ethnic group.” The UN • Liaise and work with sister unions in further estimates that at least one in three of South Africa to support them in action to all women worldwide will be beaten, coerced challenge the cultural system that allows into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. violence against women and ‘corrective rape’ to take place unpunished. However Russia are attempting to block progress on women’s rights and lesbian, gay, • Engage with the UN Committee on bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality in the Ending of Discrimination Against the UN, as part of a political agenda using a Women (CEDAW), and push for the conservative view of ‘tradition’ to try to restrict UK government to actively support human rights. Xenophobia and discrimination action to end violence against women are encouraged by the Russian authorities, internationally. with women’s rights and human rights • And don’t forget, when you are planning defenders portrayed as enemies of Russia your campaign, to talk to co-workers and its traditional values. about the issues and recruit non- members into UNISON. In the Middle East, women protestors are being targeted for violent and sexually abusive treatment, and despite their active More information participation in the recent uprisings they Women’s Resource Centre are now being excluded from the political A charity which supports women’s discussions on how their future should be organisations to be more effective and shaped. sustainable. They also lobby decision makers on behalf of the women’s not-for-profit sector Culturally violent abuses continue, with female for improved representation and funding. genital mutilation and practices such as breast ironing. So-called honour crimes going Women’s Resource Centre unpunished, whilst in some countries women United House receive harsh and even fatal punishment for North Road, London N7 9DP adultery. Women are also being forced into Tel: 020 7697 3450 marriage and trafficked for sexual exploitation. Email: [email protected] www.wrc.org.uk In South Africa, despite progressive equality legislation and the prohibition of homophobic Committee on the Ending of Discrimination hate crime, lesbians are still subjected to Against Women (CEDAW) ‘corrective rape’, assault and murder, while The body of independent experts that the police are slow to investigate complaints monitors implementation of the Convention. and the courts are reluctant to convict the The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 perpetrators. experts on women’s rights from around the world. www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index. htm
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Equality Now An organisation that advocates for the human rights of women and girls around the world by raising international visibility of individual cases of abuse, mobilising public support through its global membership, and wielding strategic political pressure to ensure that governments enact or enforce laws and policies that uphold the rights of women and girls.
Equality Now London Office 1 Birdcage Walk London SW1H 9JJ Tel: 020 7304 6902 Email: [email protected] www.equalitynow.org
Amnesty Amnesty works to protect men, women and children wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
Amnesty International UK Human Rights Action Centre 17-25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA General enquiries 020 7033 1500 Email: [email protected] www.amnesty.org.uk
• Women’s Human Rights www.amnesty.org.uk/issues/Women%27s- human-rights
ILGA (The international lesbian, gay, trans and intersex association)
ILGA is a worldwide federation campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex rights. http://ilga.org
46 Abortion rights
UNISON believes that a woman’s right “UNISON has worked closely with to choose with regards to abortion is Abortion Rights and other pro-choice fundamental to her political, social and organisations for many years to defend economic equality. Control over whether, when and how many children to have is the abortion time limit, which has faced crucial to control over every other aspect of a threat from the government despite woman’s life. An overwhelming three quarters their being no medical evidence to of people in Britain support a woman’s right to support the lowering of the limit, and make her own abortion decision. against the advice of the medical Abortion has been legal in Britain since 1967 profession. We continue to campaign but the law creates unnecessary obstacles to extend the right to choose to and delays which discriminate against Northern Ireland and to ensure that all women. For 30 years Britain has had this women have access to safe and legal legislation, yet still many women are unable to abortion.” access an abortion within the NHS. Attacks on UNISON’s pro choice policy and support of Abortion Rights UK continue, along with religious groups picketing outside of UK abortion clinics.
Concern has been expressed that the 1967 Act has never been extended to Northern Ireland. Women in Northern Ireland don’t have access to abortion services unless in exceptional circumstances. Many northern Irish women face travel to the UK to access abortion services at their own cost. Fees, accommodation, and travel expenses make the cost prohibitive for others.
In the UK, a woman still requires two doctors’ signatures and must demonstrate that continuing a pregnancy would have a greater detrimental effect on her mental or physical well being or that of her existing children, than having a termination. A woman’s right to request an abortion should be underpinned with balanced professional support from regulated organisations. Women must have Reproductive rights are under attack from access to unbiased, unprejudiced, clinically religious and far right extremists across sound and researched information regarding the globe and this attack is part of a all pregnancy choices including abortion. broader attempt to control both sexual and reproductive freedoms in the name of International abortion rights ‘family’ and ‘traditional’ values. They seek Internationally, It is estimated that nearly to control and curtail the rights and equality 70,000 women die each year due to botched both of women and of lesbian, gay, bisexual terminations, which they seek because their and transgender (LGBT) people, with United government denies them the right to safe States organisations in particular pushing abortion, even in extreme cases such as a programme of anti-LGBT legislation, where their life is danger or they are the victim abstinence based sexual health education of rape. and limits to family planning and abortion in Africa.
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Campaign ideas More information • Raise awareness on the issue facing Abortion Rights women choosing to exercise their rights The national pro-choice campaign. They to seek an abortion. campaign to defend and extend women’s rights and access to safe, legal abortion. • Lobby your MP to ensure that they support a woman’s right to choose, Abortion Rights including simplifying the law to allow 18 Ashwin St access to free and safe abortion for all London women; bringing the law on abortion E8 3DL into line with other medical practice by Tel: 0207 923 9792 allowing for one doctor’s signature to Email: [email protected] consent to an abortion, not two; extending www.abortionrights.org.uk the law on abortion to Northern Ireland, where abortion is still illegal and work Global Interfaith and Secular Alliance with Labour Link to ensure that women’s (GISA) voices are heard during any parliamentary A coalition of faith-based and secular debates. organisations from around the world working • Hold a ‘speak out’ event where women to counter religious extremist forces that seek tell stories about their experiences of to curtail global progress on reproductive and abortion, to explode abortion myths sexual rights. – women who have abortions are not www.catholicsforchoice.org/campaigns/GISA/ feckless and irresponsible! GISA-home.asp • Work with and support affiliated and UK Feminista sympathetic organisations such as A movement of ordinary women and men Abortion Rights UK and The Fawcett campaigning for gender equality. Society in highlighting these attacks on women’s rights and defending a women’s UK Feminista right to choose. United House North Road • Work with appropriate women’s groups London to research and ascertain the scale of N7 9DP activity of pro-life groups and the impact Tel: 0207 700 0948 of these campaigners on a woman’s Email: [email protected] choice. http://ukfeminista.org.uk • Encourage women to undertake The Fawcett Society leadership and political training and to get The UK’s leading campaigning organisation involved in politics and their trade union; for women’s equality and rights – at home, at ensuring women’s issues are debated work and in public life. predominantly by women. The Fawcett Society • Circulate The Abortion Rights Newsletter 11-12 The Oval through women’s networks. London • Work with your regional TUC to ensure a E2 9DT co-ordinated approach in challenging and Tel: 020 3137 0809 lobbying against any detrimental changes Email: [email protected] to abortion counselling. www.fawcettsociety.org.uk
• And don’t forget, when you are planning your campaign, to talk to co-workers about the issues and recruit non-members into UNISON. 48 Women’s health
Women having control over their own bodies traumatic stress disorders twice as common is central to achieving women’s equality, and and eating disorders as high as ten times UNISON is committed to campaigning to more common. ensure that women have all the information they need to make choices about their health It is essential that women are provided with and well being. the proper support to enable them to remain in the workforce in a secure and supportive Protecting women’s mental environment. health Campaign ideas The issue of work-related stress continues to • Raise awareness of the rising rate of be a major concern. UNISON branches have stress-related mental health problems and been successful in negotiating workplace how they can best be reduced, managed policies on stress and mental wellbeing and and controlled. supporting members to remain in work, and UNISON has won compensation for members • Negotiate sickness absence management forced out of the workplace by unsympathetic workplace policies that are fair and non- employers. discriminatory.
However, due to the government’s budget • Promote polices within the workplace cuts and austerity measures, the pressure on to support the healthy work-life balance employees is ever increasing, and as always for women members and that protect it is women who are bearing the brunt of the the working conditions of our women additional workload, and paying the price in members. terms of mental health problems. • Promote guidance on work-related stress UNISON’s research has shown that some of and mental wellbeing through branches, the major causes of work-related stress are regions and women’s networks. being set unrealistic deadlines; lack of control and conflicting demands; repetitive work, • And don’t forget, when you are planning boredom and lack of job satisfaction; job your campaign, to talk to co-workers insecurity; low pay; working alone; bullying about the issues and recruit non- and harassment. members into UNISON.
All of these factors are particularly More information predominant in the female workforce, with low paid, Black, disabled and LGBT women UNISON more vulnerable to many of these situations. • Women’s mental health issues – not to Women may additionally be juggling caring be ignored at work commitments for children and older relatives www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ with their work; facing physical health member-groups/women/resources problems and potentially be in financial • Disability leave – model agreement difficulty as a result of lifelong low pay, loss of Disability leave – question and answer a partner or relationship breakdown. factsheet UNISON reps report that they are seeing www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ increasing numbers of women seeking advice member-groups/disabled-members/ and support for stress-related issues, often resources/ presenting as increased sickness absence, • Stress poor timekeeping or poor performance, but www.unison.org.uk/knowledge/issues-at-work/ frequently and worryingly also reporting stress/overview/ depression and suicidal thoughts.
Other mental health problems are also more prevalent in women, with anxiety and post-
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Mind the improvement of the treatment of cancer Providing advice and support to empower patients, including improving services for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. people with lymphoedema. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. It is important for UNISON members, whether they are ultimately diagnosed with breast Mind cancer or not, that the time spent waiting 15-19 Broadway for an appointment or results is as short as Stratford possible and that when they choose to make London E15 4BQ their conditions known they are supported in Tel: 020 8519 2122 the workplace. Fax: 020 8522 1725 Email: [email protected] There is also concern that many women www.mind.org.uk diagnosed with breast cancer do not know what help and support they are entitled to. Mind Cymru It is recognised that women members are 3rd Floor, Quebec House suffering genuine hardship when facing breast Castlebridge cancer and undergoing treatment for this 5-19 Cowbridge Road East devastating disease. Cardiff CF11 9AB Tel: 029 2039 5123 Research also shows that Black and Asian Email: [email protected] women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK have poorer relative survival rates than SAMH white women and were diagnosed with a SAMH, the Scottish Association for Mental worse prognosis than those in other ethnic Health, is Scotland’s leading mental health groups. It is recognised that there is a need charity. to provide culturally sensitive care and support to Black women and minority ethnic SAMH women that is tailored specifically to their Brunswick House cultural values and beliefs. 51 Wilson Street Glasgow Campaign ideas G1 1UZ Tel: 0141 530 1000 • Spread awareness of breast cancer, Email: [email protected] symptoms and treatment. www.samh.org.uk • Negotiate with employers to ensure Niamh that as many women as possible can Niamh, (the Northern Ireland Association for benefit from paid time off to attend breast Mental Health), is the largest and longest screening appointments, be supported established independent charity focusing through the stages of diagnosis and for on mental health and wellbeing services in those diagnosed to be fully supported Northern Ireland. during their treatment and, when appropriate, their return to work. Niamh 80 University Street • Work with other relevant bodies to ensure Belfast BT7 1HE that women members are aware of the Tel: 028 9032 8474 rights of those women with breast cancer Email: [email protected] with regard to the Equality Act, and in www.niamhwellbeing.org particular the requirement for reasonable adjustments. Breast cancer awareness and better treatment • Negotiate disability leave with employers. • Raise awareness of lymphoedema and Key to the continuing campaign for a breast support services in your area. cancer free future for all girls and women, is 50 • Negotiate with employers to ensure that • Disability leave – model agreement women living with lymphoedema are not Disability leave – question and answer discriminated against in the workplace factsheet and receive all necessary reasonable www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ adjustments. member-groups/disabled-members/ resources/ • Lobby the government and MPs to ensure the government improves cancer services Breast Cancer UK in line with the ‘Improving Outcomes The only UK-wide charity dedicated to – A Strategy for Cancer’ published in preventing breast cancer by campaigning to January 2011. This government document reduce our exposure to the carcinogens and replaced previous NHS cancer plans and hazardous chemicals in our environment and sets out how the government would like everyday products. to see cancer services delivered. The strategy covers the whole cancer journey; Breast Cancer UK from prevention and early diagnosis BM Box 7767 through to survivorship and end of life. London WC1N 3XX Tel: 0845 680 1322 • Lobby for funding and to raise awareness www.breastcanceruk.org.uk of the need for personalised prosthesis, wigs and other specialised equipment “Every year UNISON members hold for Black women who are undergoing strawberry tea events in their branches treatment for breast cancer. and workplaces to support breast • Campaign for leaflets and information cancer awareness. Breast cancer is regarding breast cancer to be produced in not only a health issue, it is a workplace community languages other than English issue. Women need support to continue that are accessible and widely available. working, if they so choose, throughout • Help ensure that the economic burden their treatment and afterwards. of breast cancer diagnosis is reduced We have also supported research by spreading awareness of any benefits women are entitled to claim and the into the causes of breast cancer, support available from UNISON’s charity and have joined the growing lobby of There for You. organisations who believe that we need to limit our exposure to carcinogens • And don’t forget, when you are planning your campaign, to talk to co-workers and hazardous chemicals in our about the issues and recruit non- environment, and in the products we members into UNISON. use every day.”
More information UNISON
• There for You offers a unique confidential advice and support service just for members of UNISON and their dependants. www.unison.org.uk/there-for-you
• Women’s health – a workplace issue www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/ member-groups/women/resources/
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Breast Cancer Care Lymphoedema Support Network Providing information and support for anyone The LSN is a registered charity run by people affected by breast cancer. who live with lymphoedema and is the largest information provider about the condition in Breast Cancer Care the UK. 5-13 Great Suffolk Street London SE1 0NS Lymphoedema Support Network [email protected] St. Luke’s Crypt Breast health enquiries: 0808 800 6000 Sydney Street www.breastcancercare.org.uk London SW3 6NH Breakthrough Breast Cancer Tel: 020 7351 4480 Dedicated to saving lives by finding the Email: [email protected] causes of breast cancer, improving detection, www.lymphoedema.org diagnosis, treatment and services. Macmillan Cancer Support Breakthrough Breast Cancer Providing practical, medical and financial Weston House support and pushing for better cancer care. 246 High Holborn London WC1V 7EX Macmillan Cancer Support Tel: 08080 100 200 89 Albert Embankment Email: [email protected]. London SE1 7UQ uk Tel: 020 7840 7840 www.breakthrough.org.uk Advice line: 0808 808 00 00 www.macmillan.org.uk Breast Cancer Campaign The charity aims to be the leading specialist • ‘Managing cancer in the workplace: in breast cancer research across the UK and An employers guide to supporting staff Ireland, making a significant impact on breast affected by cancer’ cancer for the benefit of patients. www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/ Breast Cancer Campaign Livingwithandaftercancer/Workandcancer/ Clifton Centre Supportformanagers/Employersguide/ 110 Clifton Street Employersguide.aspx London EC2A 4HT Tel: 020 7749 4114 Be Breast Aware Email: [email protected] A leaflet, produced by the NHS Breast www.breastcancercampaign.org Screening Programme and Cancer Research UK, setting out a five-point plan for women. Challenge Breast Cancer Scotland Available in 19 languages in PDF format. A registered Scottish charity and breast cancer advocacy group that campaigns for www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/ the best possible treatment and services for publications/be-breast-aware.html men and women affected by breast cancer in Scotland.
Challenge Breast Cancer Scotland P O Box 26191 Dunfermline Fife KY11 3YG Tel: 0131 463 6230 Email: [email protected] www.challengebreastcancerscotland.org
52 Ovarian cancer • Raise awareness amongst UNISON members of the symptoms of ovarian Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer, including promoting Ovarian cancer in women in the UK, affecting around Cancer Action’s symptom diary available 6,800 women. It is the highest gynaecological at http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws. killer of women in the UK and the fourth com/media.ovarian.org.uk/Symptoms_ most common cause of death from cancer diary2014.pdf and the relatively simple in women, with two out of every three cases tests available that could aid early of ovarian cancer being diagnosed when detection. the disease has spread, thus limiting the treatment options. • Lobby your MP for their support for improvements in the detection and Survival rates from ovarian cancer are low in management of ovarian cancer. the UK, with only 30% of women diagnosed with the disease surviving five years beyond • Campaign for research into ovarian diagnosis. The survival rates have hardly cancer to be publicly funded. improved over the past twenty years. There needs to be an improvement in early stage • And don’t forget, when you are planning diagnosis techniques and further research in your campaign, to talk to co-workers prevention, detection, treatment and cures of about the issues and recruit non- ovarian cancer. members into UNISON. Ovarian Cancer Action has opened the UK’s More information first research facility entirely dedicated to Ovarian Cancer Action ovarian cancer. It has committed over £1m The charity’s focus is to improve the to ovarian cancer research and developed prognosis of all women diagnosed with a symptom diary for women and GPs to ovarian cancer. They aim to transform ovarian use to clarify symptoms, to name just a few cancer treatment and improve survival achievements. through creating a research environment that Ovarian cancer was once known as a ‘silent’ encourages scientific breakthrough. disease in that the symptoms can be vague, Ovarian Cancer Action but evidence now shows that any of the 8-12 Camden High Street following three symptoms, if they occur on London most days, can suggest ovarian cancer: NW1 0JH • Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain Tel: 0207 380 1730 Email: [email protected]. • Increased abdominal size/persistent www.ovarian.org.uk bloating – not bloating that comes and goes Target Ovarian Cancer Working to save lives and help women • Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly. diagnosed live their lives to the full, wherever they are in the UK. Occasionally other symptoms such as urinary symptoms, changes in bowel habit, extreme Target Ovarian Cancer fatigue or back pain may also be experienced 30 Angel Gate on their own or at the same time as those London EC1V 2PT listed above. Again, it is most likely that these Tel: 020 7923 5470 symptoms are not ovarian cancer, but may be Email: [email protected] present in some women with the disease. www.targetovariancancer.org.uk
Campaign ideas • Support the work of ovarian cancer charities and research organisations.
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Cervical cancer • Long term use of the oral contraceptive pill increases the risk of cervical cancer. • There were around 2,900 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in the UK in (Source: Cancer Research UK 2010, that is around 8 women every day. www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/ cancerstats/keyfacts/cervical-cancer/) • Around 6 in 10 of all new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in women under In most cases the human papilloma virus is 50 years, that’s around 1,700 cases each shed from the body and causes no harm, year. however for some the virus causes changes to the cells of the cervix that if left untreated • Cervical cancer is the most common can develop into cervical cancer. Cervical cancer in women under 35 in the UK. cancer is largely preventable through regular • Overall, cervical cancer incidence in Great cervical screening and the newly introduced Britain decreased by nearly half between HPV vaccination programme – which UNISON the late 1980’s until the early 2000s, but campaigned to make available free of charge. the last decade has seen an increase of around 15%, mostly in women in their late Delay in first screening can result in a greater 20s. risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer or high-grade abnormal cells – this diagnosis will • Around 940 women died from cervical often require invasive and radical treatment. cancer in 2010 in the UK, that is more If diagnosed earlier the level of intervention is than 2 every day. often less radical and less invasive.
• In the UK, it is rare for young women to The legal age of consent is 16 and this should die from cervical cancer; around three- be considered for the age that smear tests quarters of all cervical cancer deaths commence, or for informed choice for young occur in women aged 50 and over. women under the age of 25 to have a smear if they want. With the increase in the number of • Cervical cancer accounts for around cases of Chlamydia this again highlights the one in ten cancers diagnosed in women necessity for increased smear testing. Britain worldwide. has one of the highest teenage pregnancy • Worldwide, more than half a million rates in Europe. Young girls are embarking on women were diagnosed with cervical their first sexual experiences at much younger cancer in 2008. ages and inevitably with more partners. • Cervical cancer survival is higher in As women are becoming sexually active at women diagnosed at a younger age. a much younger age, screening should start Women under 40 years of age have within 2 years of becoming active but yet it survival rates of almost 90%. is only available for women aged between 25 and 65. • Cervical cancer death rates have decreased by 70% in the UK since the Screening stops at 65 as it is believed that early 1970s. most women will have settled with one long term partner by 65. However statistics show • Infection with the human papilloma that more women than ever before are getting virus (HPV) is the main risk factor and a divorced in their 60s and enjoying renewed necessary cause of cervical cancer. sexual activity. • Women with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk of cervical cancer. Campaign ideas • Women with a sister or mother who has • Campaign for the government to have had cervical cancer are at increased risk the age restrictions lifted on cervical of developing it themselves. screening and to make screening available to all women. • Smoking increases risk of cervical cancer.
54 • Negotiate with employers for women This is a condition to which there is no cure, to have the right to attend screening only treatment and is often not understood sessions during work time without loss of enough by the women affected and their pay, and for those diagnosed to be fully families. supported during their treatment and, when appropriate, their return to work. With the average time between a woman first consulting the doctor with the symptoms • Support the work of cervical cancer and then receiving the diagnosis currently charities and research organisations. standing at 8 years there is still more to do. For girls the condition will develop at a crucial • Raise awareness among UNISON time in their education and development and members of the symptoms of cervical can have a devastating effect on their future. cancer and the importance of attending regular screening. Endometriosis UK has been working with other leading health charities on a campaign • And don’t forget, when you are planning aimed at ensuring GPs and hospitals are your campaign, to talk to co-workers better supported to be able to diagnose girls about the issues and recruit non- and women more quickly. members into UNISON. Campaign ideas More information • Encourage your regional women’s Jo’s Trust committees to affiliate to Endometriosis The only UK charity dedicated to women and UK. their families affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. Their aim is to offer • Raise awareness of the condition and of information, support and friendship to women the campaign, particularly encouraging of all ages, to help them to understand members working in education and the importance of cervical screening, and healthcare to support this campaign. to support if their screening shows up abnormalities or if they are diagnosed with • Negotiate policies that have agreements cancer. on gender specific illness/conditions.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust • And don’t forget, when you are planning CAN Mezzanine your campaign, to talk to co-workers 49 – 51 East Road about the issues and recruit non- London N1 6AH members into UNISON. Tel: 020 7250 8311 Helpline: 0808 802 8000 More information Email: [email protected] UNISON www.jostrust.org.uk • Gender, safety and health Endometriosis This guide (available from the online catalogue, stock number 1982) highlights Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue the different health and safety risks that similar to the womb lining is found outside the female and male workers are exposed to uterus. It affects an estimated 10% of women at work. of childbearing age and has affected girls as http://www.unison.org.uk/online- young as 11 years. Its cause is unknown and catalogue diagnosis difficult and for those who suffer from the condition it can be chronic and Endometriosis UK (formerly the National debilitating. As a result it can have a massive Endometriosis Society) impact on a woman’s life including difficulty in A charity committed to providing much- fulfilling work and social commitments. needed support and information for anyone affected by the condition. It works to increase understanding of this common, but often 55 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
unheard of, disease among healthcare More information professionals, employers, people with Group B Strep Support endometriosis and their families, the public Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is a UK and the media. charity, aiming to offer information and Endometriosis UK support to families affected by group B Suites 1&2 Streptococcus, inform health professionals 46 Manchester Street and individuals how most group B Strep London W1U 7LS infections in newborn babies can be Helpline: 0808 808 2227 prevented and generate continued support Tel: 020 7222 2781 for research into preventing group B Strep www.endometriosis-uk.org infections in newborn babies. Group B Strep Support Group B Streptococcus P O Box 203 Group B streptococcus (GBS) also known Haywards Heath as group B strep, is one of many different RH16 1GF bacteria that live inside a body. About a Tel: 01444 416 176 third of us have GBS in our gut without even Fax: 0870 803 0024 knowing it. Email: [email protected] www.gbss.org.uk About a quarter of women also have GBS in their vagina although there will not be Menopause any obvious symptoms. GBS bacteria can also be passed from a woman to her baby Women experiencing menstrual and during labour and this doesn’t usually cause menopausal symptoms continue to feel the problems, and most women who carry GBS pressure and prejudice of having ‘women’s bacteria have healthy babies. Only in rare problems’ which are debilitating, but the cases does GBS cause serious illness and symptoms of which last a comparatively even more rarely, death of the baby. However short time, yet can frequently trigger formal even a low risk can be avoided through one monitoring procedures. simple test and countries who use the test In a number of work places gender specific have seen the incidence of death in babies illnesses/conditions are dealt with outside due to GBS infection fall by 71-86%. the absence/sickness policies and UNISON believes that absences as a result of issues Campaign ideas relating to pregnancy, the menopause or • Raise awareness and highlight the the menstrual cycle/periods should not importance of Group B strep screening. be recorded in the same way as any other sickness absence. • Provide guidance to women in your branch on the symptoms and effects of Women should experience no detriment Group B strep. because they may need time off during this time. Working time arrangements should • Promote the petition calling on the be flexible enough to ensure that they meet government to ensure this test is the needs of menopausal women, who may available to all women http://gbss.org.uk/ require leave suddenly at short notice. They campaigning/parliament/current-petition/. may also need more or lengthier comfort • And don’t forget, when you are planning breaks during the day. But menopause your campaign, to talk to co-workers remains a hidden issue and is often trivialised about the issues and recruit non-members by management and HR departments. into UNISON. All menopause-related sickness absence should be recorded as an ongoing issue, rather than individual absences. Many employers use the Bradford Factor to evaluate 56 sickness absence, which penalises many Women’s Health Concern short term absences by assigning a negative A charity that provides an independent score to the employee. However allowances service to advise, reassure and educate are made for a few periods of long-term women about their health concerns. absence. Women’s Health Concern Campaign ideas 4-6 Eton Place, Marlow • Negotiate policies that have agreements Buckinghamshire SL7 2QA on gender specific illness/conditions. Tel: 01628 890199 • Negotiate sickness absence management www.womens-health-concern.org workplace policies that are fair and non- discriminatory and flexible enough to Product regulation cater for menopause-related sickness Women are often told to protect their skin absence. by not exposing themselves to harmful rays • Raise awareness of how some conditions from the sun, although there are no similar such as premenstrual syndrome or other warnings about the harmful ingredients menstrual disorders that affect women included in some of the products advertised but are short-lived should not result in the to use for our protection. use of conduct or capability procedures. We are encouraged to use anti-bacterial • Urge branch secretaries to prioritise products to ensure the highest level of negotiating protection for women with hygiene and cleanliness yet they encourage menopause in line with the UNISON guide the growth and development of superbugs in their health and wellbeing workplace such as MRSA. policies. Just 10% of the 10,000 chemical substances • Encourage more women members to used on the European market have been become safety reps and ensure that tested for health effects. Some of the women members’ concerns and priorities ingredients used in perfumes, cosmetics and are adequately reflected in the workplace personal care products include cow’s brains, health and safety agenda. placenta, spleens and spinal cords. Some • And don’t forget, when you are planning also contain anti-freeze and a toxic cocktail of your campaign, to talk to co-workers chemicals such as parabens. about the issues and recruit non- members into UNISON. Campaign ideas • Raise awareness and campaign to back More information proposals for improved regulation, testing UNISON and labelling of perfumes, cosmetics and personal care products and everyday • Gender, safety and health domestic cleaning products. This guide (available from the online catalogue, stock number 1982) highlights • Encourage affiliation to local Women’s the different health and safety risks that Environmental Network to support their female and male workers are exposed to continuing good work. at work. • And don’t forget, when you are planning http://www.unison.org.uk/online-catalogue your campaign, to talk to co-workers • Menopause and Work guide for about the issues and recruit non- UNISON safety reps members into UNISON. www.unison.org.uk/about/our- organisation/member-groups/women/ resources/
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More information Women’s Environmental Network
Women’s Environmental Network is the only organisation in the UK working consistently for women and the environment. Central to their approach is the belief that women have the right to information to enable them to make fair choices.
Women’s Environmental Network Ground Floor, 20 Club Row, London E2 7EY Tel: 020 7481 9004 Email: [email protected] www.wen.org.uk
58 Women internationally
The millennium development The United Nations Millennium Development goals Goals Report 2012 states that a mother’s education “remains a powerful determinant In the year 2000, at the Millennium Summit, of inequity.” Children of educated mothers— 189 member’s states of the United Nations even mothers with only primary schooling— declared that they would spare no effort are more likely to survive than children of to achieve a set of eight goals aimed at mothers with no education. Empowering raising the level of development, health and women, removing financial and social barriers prosperity of the globe by the end of the year to welfare, encouraging more innovations of 2015.
These goals were: to make critical services more available to 1. Eradication of extreme poverty and the poor and increasing the accountability hunger. of health systems at the local level are all examples of policy interventions that could 2. Achievement of universal primary improve equity, with benefits for child survival. education. The Report notes that “there have been 3. Promotion of gender equality and important improvements in maternal health empowerment of women. and reduction in maternal deaths, but progress is still slow. ... Gender inequality 4. Reduction of child mortality globally. persists and women continue to face 5. Improvement in maternal health globally. discrimination in access to education, work and economic assets, and participation 6. Accelerating the combat of HIV/Aids, in government. Violence against women malaria and other diseases. continues to undermine efforts to reach all goals. Further progress to 2015 and beyond 7. Ensuring global sustainability. will largely depend on success on these interrelated challenges. “ 8. Development of global partnership for development. Human rights The realisation of the Millennium Development In September 2012, the United Nations (UN) Goals would transform the lives of millions of Human Rights Council adopted a resolution women and children around the world. Less from Russia which linked human rights to women dying in childbirth, a reduction in child ‘traditional values’ by a vote of 25 in favour mortality rates, education and opportunity for and 15 against, with seven states abstaining. women who have been denied even a basic education and the list goes on. The wish list This resolution was an unmistakable attempt should be turned into a living reality. to try to block the progress of women’s rights and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender In these times of global economic crisis, the (LGBT) equality. It is part of a political agenda voices of these women and children around by Russia to advance a conservative view of the world will become harder to hear. For ‘tradition’ that will be used to try to restrict example, women may have contributed human rights. It seeks to legitimise what is significantly to the Arab Spring, but it remains happening inside Russia where LGBT pride to be seen if the subsequent changes will events are repeatedly banned and a growing contribute to the empowering of Arab women number of cities have outlawed ‘homosexual workers and union activitists. propaganda’, a vague term which can be 59 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
used to stamp out social and cultural events atrocities in countries that fall within as well as any community organising. the international work programme, and encourage regional international At the national level, Russia has invoked committees to include a gender element ‘traditional values’ to advance stereotyped to their work programmes. notions of the role of women, to criminalise those who are deemed ‘immoral’ by the state, • Raise awareness across UNISON about and to restrict the activities of organisations the importance of messages of solidarity working on ‘non-traditional’ issues. The to persecuted human rights defenders. UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women noted in 2010 • And don’t forget, when you are planning that Russia maintains traditional customs your campaign, to talk to co-workers and practices that “perpetuate discrimination about the issues and recruit non-members against women and girls; and that this is into UNISON. reflected in their disadvantageous and unequal status in many areas, including the More information persistence of harmful traditional practices, UNISON honour killings, bridal kidnappings and violence against women”. • Working internationally http://www.unison.org.uk/about/what-we- Russia has repeatedly asserted that the do/working-internationally/ resolution was needed to restore the ‘moral dimension’ of human rights and that Russia International Trade Union Confederation has affirmed its intention to continue to (ITUC) present the resolution on an annual basis. This is the main international trade union organisation, representing the interests of Campaign ideas working people worldwide. • Lobby the government to ensure that the ITUC Millennium Development Goals are kept Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5, Bte 1 on track and to support the universality 1210 Brussels of human rights internationally and to Belgium work towards the defeat of future similar Email: [email protected] resolutions on ‘traditional values’. www.ituc-csi.org
• Raise awareness of the importance of the • Women Millennium Development Goals. www.ituc-csi.org/women.html
• Support and build on links with trade European Trade Union Confederation union women overseas and global (ETUC) women’s organisations. The ETUC exists to speak with a single voice, on behalf of the common interests of workers, • Raise awareness amongst women at European level. Founded in 1973, it now members of UNISON’s Trade Union represents 85 trade union organisations in 36 International Development Fund that European countries, plus 10 industry-based provides funding for international federations. initiatives between UNISON and sister unions in other countries, and ETUC to encourage them to apply for such Boulevard Roi Albert II, 5 funding. B-1210 Brussels Belgium • Encourage UNISON women members to Email: [email protected] become involved by becoming Branch www.etuc.org International Officers. • Gender equality • Promote awareness of women specific www.etuc.org/issue/gender-equality 60 Public Services International (PSI) Safe Motherhood Partnership for Safe Bringing together more than 20 million Motherhood and Newborn Health workers, represented by 650 unions in 148 Established with the aim of promoting the countries and territories. It is a global trade health of women and newborns, especially union federation dedicated to promoting the most vulnerable. Expanding the scope quality public services in every part of the of the global Safe Motherhood Initiative and world. Its members, two-thirds of whom are building on the work of the Safe Motherhood women, work in social services, health care, Inter-Agency Group, the Partnership aims municipal and community services, central to strengthen maternal and newborn health government, and public utilities such as water efforts at the global, regional, and national and electricity. levels, in the context of equity, poverty reduction, and human rights. Public Services International 45 avenue Voltaire www.safemotherhood.org BP 9 01211 Ferney-Voltaire Cedex United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) France Aiming to deliver a world where every Email: [email protected] pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every www.world-psi.org young person’s potential is fulfilled.
• Gender equality United Nations Population Fund www.world-psi.org/en/issue/gender- 605 Third Avenue equality New York, New York 10158 USA Email: [email protected] Life for African Mothers www.unfpa.org A Maternal Health charity aiming to make birth safer in Sub Saharan Africa, by World Health Organisation (WHO) providing medication to treat eclampsia and Directing and coordinating authority for post partum haemorrhage. By providing health within the United Nations system. It is medication to treat the complications of child responsible for providing leadership on global birth, the charity has been able to support health matters, shaping the health research hospitals and health centres across Africa and agenda, setting norms and standards, see huge reductions in maternal mortality. articulating evidence-based policy options, They also facilitate midwifery training providing technical support to countries and programmes in several countries to help train monitoring and assessing health trends. The and update qualified midwives to enhance overall performance of WHO will be measured their clinical skills in caring for mother and by the impact of its work on women’s health baby. and health in Africa.
Life for African Mothers www.who.int/en 3rd Floor, Linden Court The Orchards, Ilex Close Llanishen CF14 5DZ Tel: 02920 747304
Email: [email protected] http://lifeforafricanmothers.org/
61 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Womankind and to forge effective partnerships with An international women’s human rights charity civil society. working to help women transform their lives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. They partner • To hold the UN system accountable for with women’s rights organisations who are its own commitments on gender equality, tackling the day to day issues that affect including regular monitoring of system- women’s lives and who are creating impact. wide progress.
Womankind UN Women Development House, 2nd Floor 405 East 42nd Street 56-64 Leonard Street New York, NY 10017 United States London EC2A 4LT www.unwomen.org Tel: 020 7549 0360 Email: [email protected] International day of the girl www.womankind.org.uk child Equality Now United Nations International Day of the Girl An organisation that advocates for the human Child, inaugurated in 2012, is celebrated on rights of women and girls around the world October 11. The day aims to help galvanize by raising international visibility of individual worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ cases of abuse, mobilising public support lives, providing an opportunity for them to through global membership, and wielding show leadership and reach their full potential. strategic political pressure to ensure that The event is particularly important in the governments enact or enforce laws and context of the following disturbing statistics: policies that uphold the rights of women and girls. • By 2015, females will make up 64% of the world’s (adult) population who cannot Equality Now London office read. 1 Birdcage Walk London SW1H 9JJ • Only 30% of girls in the world are enrolled Tel: 020 7304 6902 in secondary school. Email: [email protected] www.equalitynow.org • One in seven girls in developing countries is married off before age 15. Million Women Rise This movement is made up of thousands • Children as young as age 11 are forced to of women who are united by outrage at the work as prostitutes, with some estimates continued daily, hourly, minute-by-minute having as many as 1.2 million children individual and institutionalised male violence being trafficked every year. enacted against women worldwide. • More than half of music videos feature Email: [email protected] a female portrayed exclusively as a www.millionwomenrise.com decorative, sexual object.
UN Women • More than half (54%) of all rapes of The main roles of UN Women are: females happen before age 18.
• To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms.
• To help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it,
62 “It’s just one day a year, one day that • To hold the UN system accountable for we can all mark in our UNISON diaries its own commitments on gender equality, as being special, one day that we including regular monitoring of system- wide progress. can celebrate with our daughters and granddaughters, just one day when we UN Women can all remind our sisters and brothers 405 East 42nd Street that we need to focus our efforts on New York, NY 10017 United States Tel: +1 646 781 4400 girls and their struggles. www.unwomen.org Remember these girls, remember them because, with all our help, with all our UNICEF support and leadership and inspiration The world’s leading organisation working for children, working in over 190 countries. and nurturing and love, they are going to be the amazing women of the www.unicef.org future.” • Gender equality National women’s conference www.unicef.org/gender/ Plan UK There is much other practical work to be One of the oldest and largest done to support young women and girls, children’s development organisations but the United Nations International Day of in the world. It works in 50 developing the Girl Child is nonetheless an important countries across Africa, Asia and the development which should be supported as Americas to promote child rights and lift an opportunity to celebrate and to educate. millions of children out of poverty. Campaign ideas Plan UK • Encourage regional women’s groups Finsgate to work with regional young members 5-7 Cranwood Street forums to mark the day. London EC1V 9LH • Promote the day and linked events Tel: 0300 777 9777 among members. www.plan-uk.org • And don’t forget, when you are planning your campaign, to talk to co-workers about the issues and recruit non- members into UNISON.
More information UN Women The main roles of UN Women are: • To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms. • To help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.
63 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
Get involved
This guide is an introduction to some of the issues that women’s self organisation has identified as priorities. There are many more campaigns, and many more sources of information and support.
Keep up to date on our web pages at www.unison.org.uk/women facebook page at www.facebook.com/unisonwomen twitter @WomenInUnison
Get involved in your regional women’s group to make sure you hear about what’s going on. “Never underestimate what we as women workers and women trade unionists can achieve through collective action... A woman’s right to choose; a woman’s right to an education; and a woman’s right to live free from violence. These are the causes that bring us together as trade unionists, as campaigners and as feminists. And let none of us rest until these fundamental human rights are a reality for every woman in every country in every continent.”
Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary
64 Getting help from UNISON
There is a wealth of expertise within UNISON that is available to support you when you run campaigns. www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns
As a first point of call, check the website for contact details that relate to individual issues, email: [email protected], or call UNISONDirect 0845 355 0845 for details of your regional contact.
There for you (formerly UNISON Welfare) may be able to provide support if you or members are dealing with any of the issues raised in this guide. ‘There for you’ is a unique confidential service offering advice and support just for UNISON members and their families, including:
• Financial assistance
• Debt advice
• Wellbeing breaks
• Support and information
‘There for you’ is a registered charity (No 1023552).
To find out more call 020 7121 5620 or email: [email protected] or visit the website: www.unison.org.uk/get-help/help-with- problems-at-home/there-for-you
65 Women in UNISON - campaigning handbook
66 67 Published by UNISON, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY. CU/January 2015/22949.