WOMEN BEAR BRUNT OF ‘GROSSLY UNFAIR’ CUTS
· Female unemployment hits 20 year high
· Unemployment amongst women in Wales rises nearly twice as fast as figure for population as whole
TRADE unions in Wales have reacted angrily to the disproportionate impact unemployment is having on women in Wales. Stark statistics show that compared with last year, the number of unemployed people in Wales rose by 17.8% while the same figure for women stands at 34.4%.
The Wales TUC today labelled the development as ‘grossly unfair’ and a shameful indictment on the Coalition Government’s failing austerity agenda. As female unemployment has reaches a twenty year high, UNISON Cymru has also warned that women are set to keep losing out as the public sector faces yet more cuts.
Wales TUC General Secretary Martin Mansfield said:
“These figures are solid proof that the cuts are hitting women hardest.
“How can it be fair that unemployment has risen twice as much for women than society as a whole? It’s a shameful indictment on a UK Government that is happy watch decades of social progress roll back whilst sitting on its hands.
“This will lead to more poverty and inequality which is why unions are fighting for a 'future that works' with jobs and decent services for all”
“These figures are solid proof that the cuts are hitting women hardest.
“How can it be fair that unemployment has risen twice as much for women than society as a whole? It’s a shameful indictment on a UK Government that is happy watch decades of social progress roll back whilst sitting on its hands.
“This will lead to more poverty and inequality which is why unions are fighting for a 'future that works' with jobs and decent services for all”
Win Wearmouth, UNISON Cymru/Wales Deputy Convenor, said:
“We know that women are suffering disproportionately as a result of the recession and the attack on the welfare state from the UK Tory-led government.
“Women make up around 65% of the public sector workforce, so it is easy to see that women are at higher risk of losing their jobs when it comes to the reduction of the public services.
“Furthermore, the impacts of public service cuts are going to be felt more deeply by women. Women typically use more state services and benefits than men for a variety of reasons, including pregnancy and maternity needs, and the fact that women are more likely to be lone parents.
“We can see from the disproportionate rise of unemployed women in Wales that women are fast becoming the casualties of the recession.
“This is not to say that other people within our communities aren’t suffering too, but the reality is clear, women are bearing the brunt of the Westminster Government’s viscous austerity measures.
“I have very real concerns, on the behalf of women in all of our communities, that the clock is being turned back on women’s equality.”
