TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Jackie Marshall NEC reports on the three-day TUC Women’s Conference that took place in March

The POA’s delegation, led by me, was made up of Sarah Rigby NEC; Angela Montgomery AGS; Hayley Rhodes HMP Bristol; Louise James HMP Hewell; Alice Lee HMP Littlehey; and Karen Jackson HMP North Sea Camp.

The three days were packed with motions about general women’s issues such as women’s health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace, and sexual harassment, along with issues specific to occupations such as recruiting women seafarers, cancer as an industrial injury for firefighters, and PPE in war zones.

Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union and President of the TUC, addressed the delegates during the opening of the conference.

Thursday’s business opened with an international panel discussing the escalating violence in Gaza, the occupation of Palestine and solidarity from trade union women.

Speaking a day later because of the budget, the TUC General Secretary, Paul Nowak, opened Thursday’s afternoon session sending a very loud and clear message that there is no place in the trade union movement for sexual harassment.

I moved the first motion on Friday morning, a POA motion which had been composited with other unions asking for a change in the law to place a legal obligation on employers to provide period products free to all employees who need them during working hours.

As a delegation, the POA spoke on menstruation and related health conditions, intimate police searches, bereavement leave and pay for baby loss, and an allowance for parents of girls for sanitary products.

A very brave Alice Lee seconded the Communication Workers Union’s motion on bereavement leave and pay; she left the podium to a standing ovation after sharing her babyloss story.

Karen Jackson moved the POA motion asking for a government allowance for parents of girls to buy them the period products they need.

Throughout the conference there were funny times and sad times when lots of delegates had a tear in their eye, while others could not stop the tears falling.

Sarah Rigby closed the conference by giving a vote of thanks to the chair Debbie Reay.

Overall, the conference united the women delegates who all wanted a fair deal and support from employers when it was needed.

I’d like to thank Francis Stuart, Head of Employee Relations for approving facility-time, Hayley, Louise, Alice and Karen for volunteering to be delegates, and Angela Montgomery for encouraging delegates of other unions to vote for me to be re-elected to the TUC Women’s Committee.

 

“I have found the conference so informative and at times a little overwhelming. By this, I mean I have been moved by the way many women have been treated and victimised in all races and nationalities. The suffering of women and children in war-torn countries is despicable and needs to stop. We as women need to continue to fight for our rights, we need to support our sisters. We are all important and I have learned that our voices need to be heard. Together we can make a difference. I look forward to attending many more conferences. Thank you for this opportunity that I have been given. I want to get more involved.”

Karen Jackson

“First time at the TUC’s Women’s Conference. I found it empowering and inspirational. Some excellent speakers, younger women, and shows how we need to work together to get change for women in the workplace.”

Louise James

“Women’s Conference to me has been truly inspiring. A room full of women listening to voices too regularly not heard. The opportunity for me to share my passion for change and to campaign urging employers to sign up to the Miscarriage Association’s, The Pregnancy Pledge. The POA has given me a voice and the TUC has listened. The standing ovation following my speech was overwhelmingly brilliant.”

Alice Lee

“The conference has been a fantastic and motivational experience. It has really highlighted the issues women continue to face in the workplace, and hearing some of the stories has been shocking at times. There is work to be done and improvements can be achieved by speaking out and showing solidarity.”

Hayley Rhodes