The Regional Women’s Committee recently hosted a successful Women’s Training Day, bringing together 47 women from branches across London to discuss key workplace issues affecting women and how union members can encourage their employers to implement new policies and amend existing policies to support women workers further in the workplace.
The day featured insightful training sessions, starting with a session on sexual harassment in the workplace, delivered by Myra Wale, Secretary to the Regional Women’s Committee, followed by a discussion on workplace experiences led by Julie Cunnane, Committee member. According to a survey by UNISON last year (2024), 1 in 10 healthcare workers report having experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, and 1 in 10 female support staff in schools. Attendees welcomed the new Workers Protection Act 2024, which introduced a new proactive obligation on employers to take preventative steps to eliminate workplace sexual harassment. Employers are expected to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment by any perpetrator, including third parties such as patients, customers, clients, service users, contractors and members of the public.
Clara Mason, Committee member, presented a workshop on kinship care, a topic central to the Committee’s motion at the recent Women’s Conference. Kinship carers are family or friends who step up, often during an unexpected crisis, to care for a child when their parents are unable to. According to the Kinship Charity’s recent survey, 87% of kinship carers are women. Unfortunately, many employers do not offer any support for kinship or foster carers, with many having to make the choice to reduce their working hours or leave employment all together so they can fulfil their caring responsibilities.
Maggie Griffin, Committee member, delivered a workshop on baby loss and the support employers should be offering in the workplace, including adapting any parental leave policies to incorporate additional time off and support for the loss of a baby or miscarriage.
Attendees also heard from Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead. Abena is the Chair of the Labour Women’s Network, and was formerly the Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health before being appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office.
Branches are encouraged to review existing policies with the employers they work with, to ensure they are fit for purpose and take a proactive approach to supporting women facing these challenges.
