ITV
News
... group focusing on the disproportionate impact of
the austerity cuts on women. ... impact of the government's austerity
measures against women.
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Welsh Women in UNISON
Welcome to Women in Unison - the blog for women to post their thoughts, feelings and experiences surrounding the cuts in public sector spending.
Women are being hit the hardest by the austerity measures being imposed by the UK Government, which is seeing the rollback of the welfare state. Women rely upon public services more than men and they also make up the majority of the workforce in the public sector, so it is clear that women will be disproportionately affected by decimation of public services.
Did you know...
Women make up 65% of the public sector workforce, so job cuts will hit women the hardest.
Women will pay for 72% of the changes in taxes, benefits and tax credits set out in the budget.
95% of women's organisation face funding cuts/funding crisis in the next year.
Cuts to carers allowance will disproportionately affect women: 58% of carers and 74% of current carers allowance clamaints are women.
73% of remaining positions in the public sector that are subject to a pay freeze are held by women.
What can you do?
Tell us your thoughts, feelings and experiences on this blog.
Talk to your friends, family, colleagues about these issues and how they affect you.
Write to your Welsh AM & MP.
Join UNISON.
For women, trade union membership is as relevant as ever. UNISON has almost one million women members - more than two thirds of our union. Regrettably, women have still not reached a position of workplace equality – women still earn a lot less than men and face sex discrimination and harassment at work. We also know that UNISON women members are under increasing pressure to juggle work and home commitments. Almost half of women work part-time and this is largely because so many have caring responsibilities outside of the workplace.
Gender equality is a fight worth fighting and UNISON will never give up.
Women are being hit the hardest by the austerity measures being imposed by the UK Government, which is seeing the rollback of the welfare state. Women rely upon public services more than men and they also make up the majority of the workforce in the public sector, so it is clear that women will be disproportionately affected by decimation of public services.
Did you know...
Women make up 65% of the public sector workforce, so job cuts will hit women the hardest.
Women will pay for 72% of the changes in taxes, benefits and tax credits set out in the budget.
95% of women's organisation face funding cuts/funding crisis in the next year.
Cuts to carers allowance will disproportionately affect women: 58% of carers and 74% of current carers allowance clamaints are women.
73% of remaining positions in the public sector that are subject to a pay freeze are held by women.
What can you do?
Tell us your thoughts, feelings and experiences on this blog.
Talk to your friends, family, colleagues about these issues and how they affect you.
Write to your Welsh AM & MP.
Join UNISON.
For women, trade union membership is as relevant as ever. UNISON has almost one million women members - more than two thirds of our union. Regrettably, women have still not reached a position of workplace equality – women still earn a lot less than men and face sex discrimination and harassment at work. We also know that UNISON women members are under increasing pressure to juggle work and home commitments. Almost half of women work part-time and this is largely because so many have caring responsibilities outside of the workplace.
Gender equality is a fight worth fighting and UNISON will never give up.
Friday, 9 October 2015
Feminist protesters storm red carpet of Suffragette film
Monday, 21 September 2015
Visit UNISON Wales Facebook page for more updates!
https://www.facebook.com/unisoncymruwales?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/unisoncymruwales?fref=ts
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Everyday Sexism
Have you seen this website?
http://everydaysexism.com/
The Everyday Sexism Project exists to catalogue instances of sexism experienced by women on a day to day basis. They might be serious or minor, outrageously offensive or so niggling and normalised that you don’t even feel able to protest. Say as much or as little as you like, use your real name or a pseudonym – it’s up to you. By sharing your story you’re showing the world that sexism does exist, it is faced by women everyday and it is a valid problem to discuss.
http://everydaysexism.com/
The Everyday Sexism Project exists to catalogue instances of sexism experienced by women on a day to day basis. They might be serious or minor, outrageously offensive or so niggling and normalised that you don’t even feel able to protest. Say as much or as little as you like, use your real name or a pseudonym – it’s up to you. By sharing your story you’re showing the world that sexism does exist, it is faced by women everyday and it is a valid problem to discuss.
UN Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo says UK has 'sexist culture'
BBC News Report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27034117
Rashida Manjoo is on a visit to the UK, studying its approach to the issue.
She said sexism was worse in the UK than in other places, and warned that the government's austerity measures were having a "disproportionate impact" on women's risk of violence.
The government said it wanted to end violence against women, and had ring-fenced £40m for support services.
Ms Manjoo made her comments as she presented her preliminary findings, before she is due to report back to the UN Human Rights Council.
The part-time professor in public law at the University of Cape Town raised fears that sexual bullying and harassment in schools was "routine".
She said sexism in the UK was more "in your face" than in other countries, and raised serious concerns about the portrayal of women and girls in the media.
She said the British media was responsible for "negative and over-sexualised portrayals of women", with some websites and TV channels dealing in the "marketisation of their bodies".
Ms Manjoo said it was clear "there is a boys' club, sexist culture that exists, and it does lead to perceptions about women and girls in this country".
She said public spending cuts were having a "disproportionate impact" on women, and raised concerns about reductions in legal aid for domestic violence victims.
"Access to trauma services, financial support and housing are crucial, yet current reforms to the funding and benefits system continue to adversely impact women's ability to address safety and other relevant issues," she said.
She said the cuts "not only [affected] the specific provision of 'violence against women' services", but also had a more general impact as poverty and unemployment were known contributory factors.
The inspector also said she had wanted to visit Yarl's Wood Immigration Centre in Bedfordshire, which houses hundreds of women, to "objectively seek information on violations being experienced".
But she said she believed an order to stop her gaining access to the facility had come from the highest levels at the Home Office.
'Never agreed'
She had been due to visit the site with the help of the Prisons Inspectorate, she told journalists, but was told by the centre's director that she would not be allowed access.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Violence against women and girls in any form is unacceptable and the government has shown its commitment to ending it.
"We have ring-fenced nearly £40m for specialist support services and national helplines."
On the subject of Ms Manjoo's itinerary, the spokeswoman said: "A comprehensive programme was drawn up for the special rapporteur's visit, including meetings with the home secretary, the minister for crime prevention, and the chief inspector of prisons.
"Several other options, including a trip to a women's refuge, were turned down by the special rapporteur.
"A tour of Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre was never agreed as part of this fact-finding mission."
The UK has a "boys' club sexist
culture", a UN investigator looking at violence against women has said.
Rashida Manjoo is on a visit to the UK, studying its approach to the issue.
She said sexism was worse in the UK than in other places, and warned that the government's austerity measures were having a "disproportionate impact" on women's risk of violence.
The government said it wanted to end violence against women, and had ring-fenced £40m for support services.
Ms Manjoo made her comments as she presented her preliminary findings, before she is due to report back to the UN Human Rights Council.
The part-time professor in public law at the University of Cape Town raised fears that sexual bullying and harassment in schools was "routine".
She said sexism in the UK was more "in your face" than in other countries, and raised serious concerns about the portrayal of women and girls in the media.
She said the British media was responsible for "negative and over-sexualised portrayals of women", with some websites and TV channels dealing in the "marketisation of their bodies".
Ms Manjoo said it was clear "there is a boys' club, sexist culture that exists, and it does lead to perceptions about women and girls in this country".
She said public spending cuts were having a "disproportionate impact" on women, and raised concerns about reductions in legal aid for domestic violence victims.
"Access to trauma services, financial support and housing are crucial, yet current reforms to the funding and benefits system continue to adversely impact women's ability to address safety and other relevant issues," she said.
She said the cuts "not only [affected] the specific provision of 'violence against women' services", but also had a more general impact as poverty and unemployment were known contributory factors.
The inspector also said she had wanted to visit Yarl's Wood Immigration Centre in Bedfordshire, which houses hundreds of women, to "objectively seek information on violations being experienced".
But she said she believed an order to stop her gaining access to the facility had come from the highest levels at the Home Office.
'Never agreed'
She had been due to visit the site with the help of the Prisons Inspectorate, she told journalists, but was told by the centre's director that she would not be allowed access.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Violence against women and girls in any form is unacceptable and the government has shown its commitment to ending it.
"We have ring-fenced nearly £40m for specialist support services and national helplines."
On the subject of Ms Manjoo's itinerary, the spokeswoman said: "A comprehensive programme was drawn up for the special rapporteur's visit, including meetings with the home secretary, the minister for crime prevention, and the chief inspector of prisons.
"Several other options, including a trip to a women's refuge, were turned down by the special rapporteur.
"A tour of Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre was never agreed as part of this fact-finding mission."
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
A Future that Works
e-petition
Calling for a future that works
Responsible department: Her Majesty's Treasury
We call on the government to recognise that austerity isn’t working and to develop an alternative that will provide decent jobs, rising prosperity for all and maintain high quality public services. People across the UK face the steepest fall in living standards in living memory, long term unemployment, job insecurity and huge cuts to public services. We note that policies being pursued by the government to cut back spending are making matters worse – prolonging the economic crisis, hurting consumer confidence and resulting in higher borrowing. As such we call for the government to adopt an alternative approach that prioritises investment, growth and decent jobs, as well as measures to boost wages for households on low to middle incomes who continue to see their living standards squeezed.
To sign the petition visit:
https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40451
To sign the petition visit:
https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40451
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