Usdaw believes that women deserve:
- Fair and equal pay.
- Safe and decent work free from sexual harassment and violence.
- Gender sensitive risk assessments.
- Uniforms and PPE designed to fit women.
- Better support for the menopause at work.
- Well paid and enforceable pregnancy and maternity rights.
- Access to meaningful family-friendly policies.
Paddy Lillis - Usdaw General Secretary says: “On International Women’s Day we celebrate women’s contribution to society, the economy, family life and workplaces. We also continue our campaigning tackling women’s inequality by addressing discrimination and improving workplace rights. We are focused on the impact the workplace has on women’s health, factors ranging from their over exposure to low pay and insecure contracts increasing their risk of poverty; to the health and safety risks that can affect physical and mental health.
“One of the most effective ways to deliver better pay, decent work and fairness for women is for employers to recognise trade unions. We need a new deal for workers that makes work pay, ends insecure employment, provides a proper social security safety net and gives workers a voice through their trade union. As we head towards a general election it is clear that only Labour will deliver that, after 14 years of Tory failure on workplace rights.
“Too many workers suffer abuse and violence at work, for women this often takes the form of sexual harassment. Usdaw’s survey of members’ experiences found seven in ten women have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work. Young women are particularly at risk with 90% reporting sexual harassment in a year. Most did not tell their employer.
“Where the differences between men and women are taken into account when assessing risk and deciding suitable solutions, there is a greater chance of ensuring that the health, safety and welfare of all workers is protected. Research shows that women are more exposed to repetitive and monotonous work and to stressful conditions. Usdaw works with employers to highlight and mitigate these risks.
“Despite a growing recognition among employers and policy makers that women’s health is a workplace health and safety issue, too few women are receiving the right support at work. Usdaw is calling for menopause related absence to be counted separately and be discounted in disciplinary and other employment decisions. We continue to campaign in workplaces to support women members to recognise and feel able to discuss their menopause and period symptoms in the workplace.
“Strong employment and equality rights during pregnancy and maternity leave are absolutely necessary; pregnancy discrimination at work and in the labour market remains widespread, ranging from being denied paid time off for antenatal appointments to inadequate rest breaks and lack of proper risk assessments. Women in unorganised workplaces face particular problems and are often too afraid or vulnerable to assert their rights; so trade unions and strong workplace organisation are crucial to defending and furthering women’s rights at work.
“The majority of low-paid key workers are women. These essential roles have been undervalued and underpaid for too long. Women workers need a new deal that includes more affordable and available childcare. They need new family friendly rights that give parents and carers real choices to support juggling work and family life. A comprehensive childcare provision is essential to support working parents.
“Today we highlight our all year round campaigning on issues that affect women workers. Women are more likely than men to be members of a trade union and strong workplace organisation is crucial to defend and further women’s rights at work. One of the most effective ways to deliver better pay, decent work and fairness for women at work is for employers to recognise and work with trade unions.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades
www.usdaw.org.uk
Labour’s new deal for working people: https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/a-new-deal-for-working-people
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion