Women form the majority of UNISON members in Scotland. UNISON structures like 'proportionality' attempt to make sure that the women are represented at all levels in the union, at least at a level that reflects their proportion of the membership. If the membership is 65% women, then the leadership should be at least 65% women.

Womens Organisation in UNISONScotland addresses the discrimination women face and provides a forum and structures to promote issues that particularly affect women in the workplace and in society in general. Family care, low pay and domestic violence are just some examples of our campaigns.

WOMEN’S EVENTS COMING UP

SCOTTISH WOMEN'S CONFERENCE / AGM - SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 2015, DISCOVERY POINT, DUNDEE

Click here for Calling Notice, Delegate Registration Form, Motions and Amendements Forms, creche form and more information.

Closing date for submission of motions:    14 September 2015
Closing date for registration of delegates: 14 September 2015
Closing date for amendments to motions  14 September 2015
Delegate Pack sent (approx):  18 September 2015

PREVIOUS EVENTS

May 2012: The Coalition Government are apparently proposing to reduce current maternity leave. Click here for what you can do...

UNISON Scotland Women's Conference - calling notice and forms

Supporting Palestinian Women – the STUC Womens Committee have completed a briefing and have developed a link with women in Gaza and Bethlehem (please click here for more details )

Conference of Trade Unions and Trade Union Councils in the Highlands and Islands. If your are in a Branch in the Highlands and Islands – this conference is being held on Saturday 11 June from 10 am. Please contact your Branch for more information (please click here for more details ). From previous knowledge I would encourage more women trade unionist to attend this event.

STUC Womens Committee Weekend – this weekend which will be held on 17/18 September at the Novotel Hotel, Pitt Street, Glasgow will be developing your “Conference Skills”. Please contact your Branch for more information (please click here for more details )

International Womens Day 8 March
See 'James Bond Supports International Womens Day 2011' video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkp4t5NYzVM

History of International Womens Day
On the unofficial UNISONActive blog

Question Time - Women's Health in a Recession
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is holding its first ever Scottish Elections Hustings Event on Wednesday 9th March at 7pm in the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

The theme of the event is Women's Health in a Recession and politicians for all parties– including Nicola Sturgeon, Jackie Baillie, Ross Finnie, Nanette Milne and Margo MacDonald – will be speaking on this vital issue ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.

To find out more or to register your place at this free event please contact 0131 226 0769 or email janism@breakthrough.org.uk or visit breakthrough.org.uk/Scotland

Women and health

Ovarian Cancer - remember the symptoms
A new nationwide advertising campaign has been launched by Ovarian Cancer Action to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Mooncups
Women’s conference 2008 made a decision to publicise the use of mooncups as a natural and safe method of dealing with periods.

Women - other campaigns

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.

UNISON supports Fawcett's Sexism in the City campaign.
The City of London is one of the most economically prosperous areas in the world. But behind the conspicuous wealth of the City lies a hidden story of disadvantage and discrimination affecting women at all levels of business, perpetuating poverty, discrimination, and absence from the corridors of power.

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Archived updates

Motions from the Womens National Conference 2010

Click here for reports on motions including Breast cancer | “A million voices” – why women must be vocal | Mary Seacole | Screen and smear tests | Women and Pensions | Women and cycling | Women united against fascism | Motions about rape | Demand Change | Prostitution | Palestine | Millennium development goals | No more BPA

Jobs for the boys and the girls? Women’s engagement with science, technology, engineering and maths, and occupational segregation.
Wednesday 9th February 6pm – 8pm Committee Room 4, The Scottish Parliament

Engender are submitting a parallel report to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which meets this year with the theme of “Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology.”

We invite you to come along to discuss our report and contribute your own comments on the barriers and challenges facing women and girls in education, training, and the labour market.

- Chair: Margaret Mitchell MSP
- Speakers: Engender, Close the Gap and the Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Tourism Jim Mather MSP (invited)
Hosted by Johann Lamont MSP
Light Refreshments provided
To book a place please call 0131 558 9596 or email Karen@engender.org.uk

Sign the 38 Degrees Stop Human Trafficking petition

UNISON SCOTTISH WOMEN’S CONFERENCE - 2010
Saturday 9 October 11am – 5pm
UNISON Glasgow City Branch Office, 18 Albion Street, Glasgow.
Branches are invited to submit motions by Friday 17 September. If you have an idea for a motion, please contact your Branch. The closing date for delegate registration is Friday 24 September (through your Branch) Click here for more details >>

Women’s Conversations at the STUC 19 August, 9 September and 7 October Click here for details.....

Equality begins at 40? - What next for Equal Pay?
Saturday 21 August, 11.00am -12.00noon Committee Room 1, The Scottish Parliament
Over the last five years, the success of the Festival of Politics has proven that whilst politics may be changing, people remain keen to engage with it. The Equality and Human Rights Commission are pleased to taking part in this year's festival, with an event in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. Delivered in partnership with Close the Gap, the event will be chaired by Kaliani Lyle, our Scotland Commissioner and speakers will include Muriel Robison and Peter Hunter, Regional Organiser Equal Pay, UNISON Scotland.

Tickets are FREE and can be booked: online, by phone, in person from Hub Tickets, or in person only from the Scottish Parliament for further details visit www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk

Glasgow to close 'Breakthrough for Women'
31/7/10: Glasgow City Council intend to close Breakthrough for Women which provides advice, support and counselling to women who have experienced sexual violence. The threat to the service comes as part of the Council’s budget cuts. The service is run by Social Work Services and assists hundreds of women each year from all parts of the city. The service is currently run by seven staff.

Brian Smith, UNISON Branch Secretary said: “After meeting with council officers on 29 July, UNISON is of the view that the Council intend to close Breakthrough for Women. We would ask that this important service to women who have experienced sexual violence is retained. The demand for the service remains and is valued by the women who use it, other frontline social work staff and other agencies. We hope that the Council demonstrates its commitment to this group of vulnerable women by continuing to offer the current services”

Families to bail out banks
20/07/10 "The government has decided that women, families and children will bear the brunt of cutting the deficit," Ruth Lister, head of social policy at LoughboroughUniversity told a TUC forum last week. Although the government claims that the emergency budget is fair, the combined effect of changes to benefits and service cuts is hitting the poorest hardest, especially low paid women workers and their families.

Million Voices Campaign - speaking up for women’s equality
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

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.

No time like the present - women and pensions
(21/07/09)With the credit crunch biting, soaring bills and conflicting demands on family incomes, it is tempting to avoid the unpleasant truth

• 'Just below the surface' is a new initiative from Fawcett designed to raise public awareness of sexism at work, as part of Fawcett's Sexism and the City campaign. Click here for the campaign. Read real-life accounts of sexism, download the briefing, send our e-postcard to a friend, order materials, share your experiences.

• fpa campaigns for women's rights to abortion in Northern ireland - sign the petition (External site - It must not be assumed that UNISON Scotland subscribes to any of the content or principles external sites)

• Abortion time limit vote - decisive win for women (click here for more details onm Abortion Rights website).

• 17 Dec: 16 days of action against gender violence
• 10 June 09: Sexual Offences Bill Passed

• OBJECT, who we passed conference policy in support of in February, are running a campaign with Fawcett to get lap dancing clubs reclassified as Sex Encounter Establishments, more info here http://www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=7332

  As a part of our Women into Public Life campaign we are publicising the work of the Women's National Commission to encourage more women to apply for public appointments. http://www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=7333

  Two new websites have been launched to help parents discuss how they organise work and caring, and what changes are needed - the results will be fed into the Equality and Human Rights Commission http://www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=7334

  UNISON is supporting the End Child Poverty Demonstration - 4th October, Trafalgar Square. Keep the Promise. See more information here - please support the demo http://www.unison.org.uk/file/B4142.pdf
  

• TUC supports campaign to stop violence against Iraqi women. Click here for details and to sign the online petition.
• WOZA members beaten in the streets of Bulawayo on International Women's Day March 8, 2008 - click here to write to protest
  Over 1,000 members of WOZA and MOZA marched through the streets of Bulawayo today to commemorate International Women's Day. The peaceful protesters, who were carrying balloons, were met by riot police after four blocks and viciously beaten. Over 50 members received medical attention for injuries caused by the assault.
• Abortion Rights' update on proposals to change the abortion law going through parliament
• War on Want fashion victim campaign Click here for a draft letter to send to Tesco, Primark etc. See more at the War on Want campaign website
• Stop Violence Against Women - Show Your Support in 3 Simple Steps!
• Scottish Womens Convention consultation invites
• Bodyform supports Dignity! Period campaign
• Women's Studies at Ruskin
• Domestic Abuse Briefing
• Raise The Roof on Domestic Violence - Survey Report
• STUC Womens Committee Report
• Scottish Executive Consultations
• Links of special interest to Womens Organisation

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Women in UNISONScotland:

Click here for UNISON Scotland Who's Who page

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About Self Organisation

To make sure all our members have a voice in the union, UNISON members have set up 'self-organised groups' to provide a voice for people who are traditionally under represented. UNISON has groups at national, regional and local level for women, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members, black members and disabled members. These groups are designed to be self-organising but also integral to the union's structures.

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