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.