UNISON has almost one million women members - more than two thirds of our union. Women still earn a lot less than men and face sex discrimination and harassment at work. Our members also juggle work and home commitments. Many have caring responsibilities and almost half work part-time. This is why UNISON takes a lead on negotiating and campaigning on women's rights at work and in the community. To get involved in our campaign go to Equal Pay.

The White Ribbon Alliance's Global Maternal Mortality Campaign

(25/08/10) The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, whose Patron is Sarah Brown, is an international coalition of individuals and organisations formed to promote increased public awareness of the need to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women and newborns in the developing world, as well as in developed countries...

Workplace policies on domestic abuse

(updated 16/08/10) UNISON was one of the first unions to raise the issue of domestic abuse in the workplace and negotiate workplace policies. A new model domestic abuse policy for negotiation with employers has been published as a result of the National Women's Conference 2010's motion 23.

UNISON wins nearly £1 million for women sacked by Excelcare

(23/07/10) More than 100 care staff received £964,537 today (20 July), with help from UNISON, after Excelcare sacked them and offered them new contracts with a 40 per cent pay cut. UNISON took on the women workers’ case after they were transferred to ExcelCare, when Essex County Council privatised their care homes

Appeal for support from the Chair of the National Women's Committee -

(22/07/10) BPA is a mass-produced chemical used in the making of polycarbonate plastics, such as baby bottles and has been linked to breast cancer and other diseases. In the USA all baby bottles containing BPA were removed from sale last year, with Canada now looking to follow suit. UNISON is therefore calling on the UK government to ban the use of BPA in the making of baby bottles...

Women Against Facism

(21/7/10) No doubt you are well aware that the BNP failed spectacularly in their bid to gain parliamentary seats in the May general election. Furthermore, it failed to win control of Barking & Dagenham council, lost all but two of the 28 council wards it was defending and was also humiliated in Stoke-on-Trent, a city previously described by BNP leader Nick Griffin as it’s “jewel in the crown”.

The Mary Seacole (1805-1881) campaign - 'Turn her into stone'

(21/7/10) Following the motion passed at National Women's Conference earlier this year, UNISON is now campaigning to raise public funds in order to erect a statue of this inspiring black female nurse, in the grounds of St. Thomas' Hospital, London...

National Women's Conference - what's it all about?

Women’s conference is held in mid-February each year, and is the UNISON event for women.

New guidance on breastfeeding at work

UNISON is working with Maternity Action, who campaign to end inequality and promote the health and well-being of all pregnant women, their partners and children from before conception through to the child's early years.

Corporate Sexism: The sex industry's infiltration of the modern workplace

UNISON national women's conference policy is to campaign against the proliferation of lap dancing clubs and the exploitation and harassment of women.  A new report from the Fawcett Society, "Corporate Sexism : The sex industry's infiltration of the modern workplace", to which UNISON has contributed, finds that the use of lap dancing clubs and display of pornography in a work context is a major new threat to women's equality at work.

Breast Cancer Care Employ Charter

Breast Cancer Care has produced resources to support workers with breast cancer

Updated pregnancy diary

UNISON has produced an updated Pregnancy diary, to support expectant mothers in workplaces.

Domestic abuse: NEW model workplace agreement

(16/08/10) UNISON has been campaigning for many years for recognition of domestic abuse as a trade union and workplace issue. We are proud of our groundbreaking “Raise the Roof” guide to negotiating workplace policies which support women experiencing abuse, and those who have escaped from their violent partners.Many branches have successfully negotiated agreements with their employers and our UPDATED model workplace agreement, which has been developed to assist branches negotiating locally, is now available to download: NEW model domestic abuse policy: NEW model domestic abuse policy.doc

Lymphoedema – help available from the Lymphoedema Support Network

(02/09/10) The Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) is a UK based charity that provides information to patients with lymphoedema, as well as to hospitals and clinics. The LSN offers fact sheets, self-help videos and a telephone support line and is involved in campaiging at national level for better standards of care for patients with the condition.

What is Lymphoedema?

Lymphoedema is a condition of localised fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by the lymphatic system not working efficiently. It most commonly occurs in the legs and arms. Areas subject to lymphoedema tend to be prone to infection...

Breast Cancer Care Strawberry Tea (updated 9/6/2010)

(9/06/10) UNISON women’s conference supports the work of Breast Cancer Care and is campaigning to raise awareness, increase funding, improve services and encouraging branches to negotiate workplace policies to support women undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Ovarian Cancer - remember the symptoms

(21/07/09) A new nationwide advertising campaign has been launched by Ovarian Cancer Action to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Supporting Rape Crisis

(12/09/2008) Many women rely on the free help provided by centres in the global Rape Crisis network.However, a funding crisis has seen the number of centres in England and Wales plummet - from 84 in 1985 to 32 today. 

Are you interested in becoming a branch international officer?

(26/08/10) Motion 37 at the National Women's Conference ("Women and International Links") was about encouraging women members to become involved in international work and to become branch international officers...

Burma - campaign to release Aung Suu Kyi from house arrest

(22/7/10) A motion passed at National Women's Conference pledged support for Aung San Suu Kyi, the female leader of the Pro Democracy movement in Burma, who despite winning the elections in 1990 with an overwhelmingly majority, has been under house arrest or detention for 14 of the past 20 years

Palestine - UNISON supporting Palestinian women

(22/07/10) A motion supporting Palestinian lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender women was carried by a large majority at National Women's Conference 2010

Million Voices Campaign - speaking up for women’s equality

(26/05/10) Women are being hit especially hard by the financial and economic crisis. Achieving equality for women is an intrinsic part of strengthening our public services and building a fairer society.

Lose the Labels campaign - end the stigmatisation of lone parents

(23/02/10) UNISON women's conference has long supported the call for more effective measures to support lone parents - nine out of ten of whom are women - and their families, including measures such as improving access to quality childcare and flexible work, and a benefits system which does not penalise working lone parents.

National Women's Committee backs Million Voices campaign

(18/02/10) UNISON's National Women's Committee is backing the Million Voices campaign...

The breastfeeding debate

(21/07/09) Media interest in breastfeeding has recently been stirred again by the publication of a report into mother's experience of bottle feeding, and concerns about the perceived pressure to breastfeed.

New campaign launched to tackle ‘women-blaming’ attitudes to rape

Rape Crisis Scotland has launched a hard hitting campaign tackling the myths around rape. The central purpose of This Is Not An Invitation To Rape Me is to challenge women-blaming attitudes to rape by stimulating public debate.

End Violence Against Women

UNISON is proud to be a part of the End Violence Against Women coalition. UNISON affiliated to the coalition as a result of a 2008 Women’s Conference decision. Please see www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk for more information about the work of the coalition.