UNISON Equality Seminar: Reflections and Vision for a Powerful Union
Explore the journey and vision of UNISON in the realm of equality through reflections on the past three decades, challenges in a post-Brexit Britain, and the goal of becoming the biggest and best union in the UK and Western Europe. Discover how UNISON aims to provide a better service to members, defend public services, and uphold equality at its core. Learn about the union's commitment to represent a broad range of public service workers, combat discrimination, and promote positive programs for its members.
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Business, Community and Environment Equalities Seminar 15 July 2022 GLORIA MILLS, NATIONAL SECRETARY EQUALITIES - UNISON
UNISONS EQUALITIES AGENDA REFLECTION OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES LANDSCAPE IN A POST-BREXIT BRITAIN CHALLENGES NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE
UNISONS VISION FOR A POWERFUL PUBLIC SERVICES UNION WHY BUILD A NEW UNION? What s the Vision?
To Provide a Better Service to Members A Powerful Union to Defend Public Services Members A Member-Centred Union with equality at its heart in principle and in practice Represent a broader range of public service workers than any other union Western Europe Meet the Challenges and Constraints of a Thatcher-led, Conservative Government Imposition of Anti-Trade Union Legislation Repel and Resist the Biggest Government onslaught on Internal Trade Union and Workers Democracy not seen in Britain since the Combination Acts Mount a full-scale attack on discrimination and support positive programmes to counter its effects
TO BE THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST TRADE UNION IN UK AND WESTERN EUROPE To Exert a major influence over futures public service policy in Britain and Europe To bring together members of all three unions by service, occupation and grade, increasing their overall bargaining strength in fighting for improved pay and conditions and better services Provide greater strength to defend public services and campaign for improved provision Have Strength in Numbers Every Workplace is a Unionised Workplace
Equality at the heart of the Union Principles and Mechanisms enshrined in Rules -Proportionality in UNISON s Rule Book Proportionality is defined as the representation of women and men in fair proportion to the relevant number of female and male members comprising the electorate (Rule Q Definitions) UNISON Rules also includes the issue of Fair Representation defined as the broad balance of representation of members of the electorate, taking into account such factors of age and low pay; part- time and full-time workers; manual and non-manualworkers, different occupations, skills, race, sexual orientation, disability ad gender identity (Rule D.2.12.3) Rule D.5 defines roles of Self-Organised Groups
Proportionality is about Getting the Balance Right Proportionality is a mechanism to get the Balance Right between women and men in Unison A mechanism to increase and strengthen women s participation in the Union A means to an end to empower women and the majority of its women s membership To propel women into positions of decision- making
Proportionality A Target Date of Year 2000 to Achieve this Target? 1993 the Beginning of a new era for Women s Representation in UNISON It will be a leading edge of change to promote parity between women and men Proportionality would result in a social Revolution with more women on negotiating committees and women employees needs being addressed more (Cosmopolitian 1993:132) Proportionality - It s not just a numbers game it is a mechanism and means to prepare women and empower them to lead change and become agents for change and take up positions of Leadership Gloria Mills, PSI Journal 1994 The Road to Feminisation of unions
1993 36 per cent of women were in trade unions. Empower low-paid women who were marginalised in the three Partner Unions 2022 53 per cent of women are in trade unions To close the power gap between women and men A bold step to increase women s participation in UNISON s Structures To close the democratic deficit gap in participation, leadership and representation. Build and empower a new generation of women into positions of Leadership
Fair Representation, Self-Organisation and Proportionality Empowering Women in all their Diversity Closing the democratic deficit in UNISON Democracy Empowering Excluded Women Increasing Women s participation in Unison democracy Empowering Under-Represented Women Increasing the power in Representative Democracy Empowering Low Paid Women, Part-Time Workers Increasing their representation in participative democracy Empower Manual Women Workers
A Strategy for Engagement, Education and Empowerment Tackling Cultural Barriers Engaging and Training in politics how it operates Changing the Culture to value and respect women s contribution Engagement in Labour Link and the need for Political Funds Ensure women s engagement in the democratic and electoral process Confidence Building Ensure women lead in collective bargaining and political structures Assertiveness Training Training in Public Speaking Preparation to Chair decision making structures
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS FOR UNISON TWO POLITICAL FUNDS EU RACE DIRECTIVE (2000/43/EC) THE ELECTION OF A LABOUR GOVERNMENT 3 MAY 1997 EU EQUALITY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (2000/78/EC) A major part of EU law to combat discrimination on grounds of disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age in the workplace ENDED CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT VETO ON EU COMPETENCE ON EQUALITY IRISH PRESIDENCY IN 1996 Proposals for TREATY OF AMSTERDAM Working Time Directive Equal Treatment Directive ARTICLE 13 TREATY OF AMSTERDAM SIGNED BY NEW LABOUR GOVERNMENT Part-Time Workers; Agency Workers; Fixed Term Contract Directive
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS - 2 MASSIVE WIN AGAINST THE COALITION GOVERNMENT IMPOSITION ON EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL FEES LEGAL WINS ON WORKING TIME NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE AND LIVING WAGE
CHALLENGES AHEAD COST OF LIVING CRISIS THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT POST BREXIT AGENDA A NEW PRIME MINISTER OPENING NEW FRONTIERS ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TAX CUTS AND CUTS TO CORPORATION TAXES VS INVESTMENT AND SPENDING ON PUBLIC SERVICES SHIFT IN SECTOR-BASED EQUALITY ACTION A SMALLER STATE? STRATEGIC EQUALITY CAMPAIGNS WHAT IT MEANS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES? STRATEGIC EQUALITY LITIGATION ACROSS SECTORS CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES JOBS DEALING WITH FACILITIES TIME
BUILDING A NEW EQUALITY ARCHITECTURE? WHAT PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW POLITICAL LANDSCAPE? HOW CAN UNISON BUILD ON ITS ACHIEVEMENTS? EMPLOYMENT AND POST BREXIT? HOW DO WE BUILD A NEW EQUALITY ARCHITECTURE IN THE UK AND GLOBALLY? PROTECTING EQUALITY HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOUR STANDARDS CONSOLIDATING ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGH LABOUR LINK AND FROM INTERNATIONAL WORK WIDENING THE GLOBAL REACH OF EQUALITY CEDAW; CERD; ILGA; UN DISABILITY RIGHTS WORK WORKING WITH TUC, EPSU, PSI AND ETUC CONSOLIDATING WORK WITH EUROPEAN TRADE UNIONS
EQUALITY AGENDA IN THE WORKPLACE EFFECTIVE CORDINATION OF EQUALITY AND WORKPLACE REPRESENTATIVES TRAINING IN BARGAINING AND NEGOTIATING SKILLS TRAINING IN NEGOTIATING TACTICTS AND SKILLS DEVELOPING LEAD NEGOTIATORS LEARNING PYSCHOLOGY OF NEGOTIATIONS LEARNING STEREOTYPES DEALING WITH BEHAVIORIAL PYSCHOLOGY DEALING WITH BLAME AND GUILT OF DEMANDING EQUAL PAY Strategy and Tactics utilised to build Workplace Power, Resilience and Support to Strengthen Workplace democracy and Solidarity. Overcoming Barriers and Obstacles - Employers The Politics, Power and Psychology of winning especially on Equal Pay
The role of trade unions is to control the unfettered abuse of management and corporate power. We exist as a countervailing force to protect the interests of workers; freedom of association and fundamental human rights We give a voice to the most vulnerable groups in society and to protect their dignity and human rights. Public Services is the greatest leveller of equality in a civilised society. It protects from cradle to grave. It must provide equal access to all and free at the point of need. It is our greatest safety net and an unbreakable State Provision. An Unbreakable Social Contract that binds the Government and the People. It must be provided for the public good and protect the public interest.
EQUALITY ENFORCEMENT IN THE UK A NEW ROBUST AND INDEPENDENT REGULATOR FIT FOR THE 21STCENTURY PROPER FUNDING RESOURCES AND STAFF A REGULATOR FIT FOR PURPOSE USING THE LAW TO ITS FULL AND INTENDED PURPOSE DISTANCED FROM GOVERNMENT S INFLUENCE AND INTERFERENCE PROTECTING THE PEOPLES HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC INTERESTS A REGULATOR THAT ACTS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS?
