TUC Women's Conference report

TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE REPORT

Introduction
The 81st TUC Women’s Annual Conference took place in Eastbourne from the afternoon of Wednesday 9th March to Friday 11th March 2011. The Chair of Conference was Lesley Mercer from the CSP.
  There were: 276 registered delegates, 31 registered unions, 13 registered regional trades councils and observers, 54 registered visitors, 6 media and 18 exhibitors. The CWU was represented by: Linda Roy (National Equality Officer); Clare Drummond; Maria Exall; Jackie Gatward, Dianne Hill; Vera Kesley; Helen Ogilvie and Katrina Quirke (Thursday & Friday). There were three CWU visitors: Sylvia Beckett; Vicki Cornelius and Marcia Ewing. Pauline Granstan (Researcher) was in attendance.
Conference Theme
2011 marked the 100th year (8th March) of International Women’s Day. The theme for conference was: “Women against the Cuts”.
Motions
Composite 1 was moved by Unite, seconded by PCS and supported by UNISON, TSSA, BECTU, NASUWT, CSP, Community and UCU. The composite outlined how the Coalition Government cuts disproportionately affect women. It called on the Women’s Committee and TUC affiliates to: exert pressure on the Government and MPs to withdraw from the attack on public spending; protect the achievements before the spending cuts; fight for the rights of women; ensure women’s equality is central to the trade union campaign; advance the Women’s Charter; organise and support working women for the TUC rally on 26th March 2011; work with women’s organisations; highlight the disproportionate impact on women of the governments cuts; support women in communities fighting to defend public services and build support for co-ordinated industrial action. The composite was unanimously carried.
Composite 2 was moved by PCS, seconded by Linda Roy, National Equality Officer, CWU and supported by RMT and ASLEF. Conference notes women will bear the brunt of the Coalition’s austerity measures and calls on the incoming TUC Women’s Committee to: lobby and put pressure on the Government to review the decisions around the cuts; encourage and support women to get involved in anti-cuts campaigning; build support for co-ordinated industrial action in defence of public service jobs; oppose public sector job cuts and research the gender impact of the Government’s welfare reform plans. The composite was carried.
Composite 3 was moved by UNISON, seconded by Prospect and supported by ATL and FDA. Conference is disappointed the Equality Act 2010 fails to address fundamental inequalities in society. Conference asked affiliated unions to work to ensure: employers continue to carry out equality impact assessments (EIA); monitor redundancies and appraisals against EIA; lobby the Government to implement the Equality Act 2010 in its entirety; the EHRC has the necessary resources to do its job and to redouble its efforts to work with public bodies and enforcement authorities. Maria Exall of the CWU entered into the discussion. The composite was carried with CWU support.
Motion 7 was moved by the GMB and seconded by UNITE. Conference voiced their anger that the Coalition government budget has resulted in redundancies, massive job cuts, lower terms and conditions for a vast number of staff. Conference calls: on the Secretary of State for Local Government to honour the Government’s pledge `to protect lower paid workers in the public sector from the massive cuts and for the TUC General Council to rally opposition to the attacks on local government jobs. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 14 was moved by the GMB and seconded by the NUT. Conference condemned the Coalition Government’s withdrawal of funding for free school meals and called on delegates to: reaffirm its support for the TUC All Together for Public Services campaign against the cuts. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 15 was moved by the UCU and seconded by the NUT. Conference reiterated its belief in free education. It called on the Women’s Committee to work with affiliates to highlight the immediate and long term effects of education cuts on the opportunities for women and girls and to ensure that evidence is made available to support TU campaigns against education cuts. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 16 (as amended) was moved by CSP and seconded by UNISON. Conference notes the disproportionate impact on women of bringing forward the date when the new state pension age of 66 takes effect. It agreed through the TUC to continue to give gender issues a high profile in the next stages of the All Together for Public Services campaign. Vera Kesley of the CWU entered into the debate. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 17 was moved by NUT and seconded by UCU. Conference welcomed the Government’s commitment to ending child poverty. However data from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (FIS) shows the poorest families are hit the hardest under the austerity budget and that child poverty is set to increase further. Conference instructs the Women’s Committee to continue to: highlight the End Child Poverty campaign; work with like-minded organisations; publicise the impact of the cuts on women and children and to persist in lobbying the Government to ensure its policies have an EIA. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 19 was moved by the FDA and seconded by Prospect. Conference welcomed recent protests highlighting the need to address corporate tax dodging. Conference agreed to: lobby the Government to reduce the tax gap by fully resourcing those departments responsible for raising revenue and for the TUC to publicise the campaigning work of War on Want and the Tax Justice Network against global injustices in the tax system. The motion as amended was carried with CWU support.
Motions 20 and 21 were taken together.
Motion 20 was moved by the Musicians’ Union and seconded by the FBU. Conference condemned violence against women in Colombia and called on the TUC to continue supporting the Justice for Colombia campaign. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 21 was moved by UCU and seconded by FBU. Conference notes the increasing abuse of human rights in Colombia and calls on TUC affiliates to: maintain pressure on the EU to suspend its Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Colombia; continue to support the work of the JFC and campaign for the release of political prisoners. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 22 was moved by Prospect and seconded by USDAW. Conference believes people everywhere should be able to work with dignity, in a secure environment, with fair pay and freedom to choose. Conference agreed to work with the Anti Slavery International and other agencies to: seek immediate action from the UK Government to meet its international obligations on trafficking as ratified in the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Human Trafficking. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 23 was moved by ASLEF and seconded by the RMT. Conference reaffirmed its continued support to helping Haitian women by: lobbying the Haitian Government; raising the plight of Haitian women; calling for improved security on temporary camps in the form of lighting; asking for increased security patrols and forging links with Haitian Women’s charities. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 24 was moved by the FBU and seconded by the Musicians’ Union. Conference continues to be outraged and appalled at the mistreatment of women in Iran. It urged the TUC General Council to raise the profile of the plight of these innocent women by encouraging members to petition the Iranian government on their behalf. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 25 was moved by UNITE and seconded by Nautilus International. Conference is gravely concerned that on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, sisters globally continues to face acts of violence. It called on the TUC to: challenge the myths and raise awareness of the reality of violence against women; promote best workplace domestic violence and dignity at work policies; campaign with organisations and others challenging the Coalitions cuts; distribute the TUC ‘Say No to Violence against Women’; support anti-trafficking measures and advance with the help of the ITUC and Women’s Committee the role of women in conflict prevention and peace-building. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motions 26 and 27 were taken together.
Motion 26 was moved by NAPO and seconded by NALGO. Conference welcomed the publication of the academic study by Gill Korton and Geraldine Healy on women and trade union leadership. Conference called on the General Council to undertake research into identifying any barriers to the full participation by women in leadership roles. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 27 was moved by Jackie Gatwood of the CWU and seconded by the FBU. Conference instructs the Women’s Committee to carry out a feasibility study, which should include positive practices that encourage full participation of women throughout the entire structure of the Union. The report should be made available to the TUC Women’s Conference 2012. The motion was carried.
Motion 28 (as amended)was moved by the NUJ, seconded by Prospect and supported by SCP. Conference agreed that the Women’s Committee should draw up a strategy to: assist unions in recruiting and mobilising young women members; encourage affiliates to make sure their delegations to TUC Conferences are age-diverse; raise awareness of the trade union movement including the use of social media and to organise a major conference aimed at young women trade unionists. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 29 was moved by USDAW and seconded by UNISON. Conference welcomed the introduction of a national minimum apprenticeship rate and the TUC/YMCA joint paper on apprenticeships and gender. Conference called on the TUC to: establish a campaign to increase all rates of the NMW; press the Government to ensure the enforcement budget is maintained; ensure that increasing the rate is a priority for the TUC and work with affiliates to raise awareness of women’s rights to the NMW. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 30 was moved by CSP and seconded by USDAW. Conference welcomes the draft EU Pregnant Workers Directive. It called upon the TUC and affiliates to: campaign to ensure the Pregnant Workers Directive is speedily implemented by the UK Government, reclaim and, where possible, advance universal benefits for women. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 31 was moved by Community and seconded by USDAW. Conference notes with concern the findings of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion Report 2010. It called on the TUC to campaign to increase in-work earnings and for policies that create better paid and flexible jobs in order to close the gender pay gap and reduce in-work and out-of-work poverty. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 32 (as amended) was moved by the NUJ and seconded by UNITE. Conference notes the report of the Macmillan Cancer Support in particular the lack of awareness of line managers that those diagnosed with breast cancer are covered under the DDA. Conference calls on the Women’s Committee together with healthcare affiliates to: campaign in raising awareness of workplace rights and for free workplace breast screening. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 33 was moved by Accord and seconded by SOR. Conference continues to support the Government, NHS and its staff in their commitment to improve breast cancer services. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 34 (as amended) was moved by POA and supported by NASUWT. Conference called for: better support systems for women suffering mental health issues; a campaign to end the stigma attached to mental health conditions; dissemination of best practice from affiliates and to campaign to address and root out some of the causes of mental health, such as job insecurity, excessive workloads and lack of social support. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Emergency 1 was moved by CSP and seconded by UNITE. Conference called upon the TUC to work with the Women’s Committee to alert affiliates of the full implication of the Health and Social Care Bill, including the specific impact on women and women’s health and the steps individual members can take to influence its passage through parliament. E1 was carried with CWU support.
Emergency 2 was moved by the Musicians’ Union and seconded by UNITE. Conference called upon the TUC to do everything in its power including writing to the Secretary of State for Health to stop the proposed closure of: A&E; maternity unit at King George Hospital and to ensure immediate improvements to the service available at Queens Hospital Unit at Romford. E2 was carried with CWU support.
Motion 36 (as amended) was moved by NASUWT and seconded by NUT. Conference agreed the TUC: should continue defending state education; oppose privatisation; stand firm against erosion of trade union rights/ recognition; campaign for repeal of anti TU laws; urge the government to support existing schools instead of redirecting millions of pounds elsewhere and to support local opposition to any more to academy and free school status. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 37 (as amended) was moved by RMT, seconded by TSSA and supported by USDAW. Conference agreed the General Council reaffirm its commitment to fully support: a properly staffed, safe public transport system and to highlight the role employers can play in helping women stay safe on their journey to and from work. CWU supported the motion.
Motion 38 was moved by Community and seconded by USDAW. Conference called for improvement to the safety of betting shop workers and for minimum standards to be introduced across the industry to help end violence and abuse against women working in betting shops. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 39 was moved by NUT and seconded by ATL. Conference urged the Women’s Committee to: lobby the DoE to ensure ‘education’ is central to the work on ending violence against women and girls national strategy; campaign to ensure teachers are given the right resources to understand and tackle the sexualisation of childhood and to put pressure on companies who promote sexualised images/products to children to cease those activities. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 40 was moved by the Musicians’’ Union and seconded by Equity. Conference called upon recognised performers to embrace feminism in the workplace by highlighting feminist entertainers. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 41 was moved by ASLEF and seconded TSSA. Conference acknowledged that in the majority of cases, outsourcing of services has a detrimental effect on employees’ working conditions. Women cleaners working within the London Underground system and call centre staff are particularly vulnerable. Conference called upon the Women’s Committee to continue campaigning against outsourcing. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 42 was moved by the FBU and seconded by UNITE. Conference called upon the TUC, STUC, WTUC and ICTU to lobby their respective governments to ensure the equality target agenda within their fire and rescue service are met. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion 43 was moved by Equity and seconded by BECTU. Conference condemned the Government Comprehensive Review particularly cuts to the ‘arts’ which will limit accessibility to art and culture from disadvantaged socio-economic groups. Conference calls on the TUC to support Equity and to help campaign against the cuts. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion selected for TUC General Conference
Composite 1
Women’s Committee Report 2011
The 2011 Report was agreed.
Delegates Elected to the Women’s Committee 2011/12
Section A: 14 seats
Sue Bond (PCS) Denise Christie (FBU) Tracy Clarke (Community)
Maire Daley (UCU) Kathy Duggan (NASUWT) Sharon Harding (GMB)
Diana Holland (UNITE) Max Hyde (NUT) Hayley Pickles (USDAW)
Linda Roy (CWU) Michelle Stanistreet (NUJ) Jane Steward (UNITE)
Barbara White (MU) Clare Williams (UNISON)
Congratulations to Linda Roy, CWU on being re-elected to the Committee.
Section B: 4 Seats (BEMs)
Evelyn Martin (GMB) Susan Matthews (UNITE)
Sujata Patel (USDAW) Eleanor Smith (UNISON)
Section C: 1 Seat (Disabled Members)
Pauline Mcardle (TSSA)
Section D: 1 Seat (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Members)
Jo Wright (NASUWT)
Guest Speakers
 Pemba Lama, senior woman in the Nepalese Trade Union movement spoke about the high levels of unemployment in her country (30%). The highest rate of employment is in the foreign trade she said. Women made up 52% of the country’s population; had little formal maternity provision; low levels of education and skills and no protection against violence and abuse she continued.
 Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary presented to conference findings on the disproportionate effect the Coalitions’ budget is likely to have on women.
 Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, reaffirmed the TUC’s commitment to fighting with affiliates against the Coalitions’ austerity measures which has far reaching consequences on the low paid, women and young people.
 Helen Kelly, President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions told conference that unions had more rights in her country than in the UK and it was almost impossible for someone to get a job without belonging to a trade union in New Zealand.
 Michael Leahy, TUC President talked of the need to celebrate the ‘diversity’ of trade unionism. He reminded conference of the “Altogether” campaign and the need for the movement to fight the Coalitions’ Government cuts.
Conclusion
On the final day of Conference it was reported in the media Japan had experience one of its worst tsunamis in the last 100 years, the earthquake measuring some 9.1 on the Richter scale. Conference expressed support to families and those who had lost love ones in this terrible disaster.
After the customary formalities, conference closed at approximately 11.30 a.m. on Friday 11th March 2011.
RD11-03-47
18th March 2011