Still reaching for equality

For women, trade union membership is as relevant today as ever. Women in the workplace have still not reached a position of equality and sadly, the current economic challenges look set to turn the clock back further.

Evidence shows that women are experiencing the brunt of the cuts more than men. A record number of women are experiencing unemployment throughout the UK, with the level being at a 25 year high. Twice as many women as men lost their jobs in the final quarter of 2011. Since the start of the recession, women’s unemployment has risen by 18%, in comparison to men’s which has risen by 1% since the start of the recession.

Yet it is not just with relation to employment that women are experiencing an unfair impact of the economic challenges. The steps that the Tory led Westminster coalition government are taking to reduce the deficit are impacting upon women hard. Women will be disproportionately affected by welfare reform, as well as being disproportionately affected by cuts to public services.

Women already have less to lose. They are paid less on average compared with men – women currently experience a full-time pay gap of 14.9%; and on average have more care responsibilities than men with more child and family care duties. Women are also more likely to retire in poverty than men – women’s average personal pensions are only 62% of the average for men. Put simply, women cannot afford to lose any more.

Furthermore, women are being slowly squeezed back out of the workplace through no fault of their own. Trade unions have long fought for equality in the workplace for women but, under the current Tory-led government, we are losing ground fast.

The ConDem Westminster government is determined to cut public sector jobs even despite the damage that this will do to our economy. Women make up 65% of the workforce within the public sector and so it is clear that women will be affected by public sector job loss compared to men. The Fawcett Society predicts that we can expect twice as many women as men to lose their jobs in the public sector. And despite reassurances from Westminster, evidence now shows that private sector job creation is simply not keeping pace with public sector job loss and so unemployment levels continue to rise. Hitting women the hardest.

In addition, as public sector services are slashed, women will be disadvantaged further as a result. Women rely upon public services more than men – women require support throughout pregnancy and have maternity needs; women are more likely to be lone parents; women are more likely lose out because of welfare reform; women are more likely to be the primary carers for children, frail older people, sick and disabled people.

And what’s more, women will be left filling the gaps created by the cutback of the welfare state. As social and child care services and benefits are withdrawn, women will inadvertently end up picking up the tab.

The Coalition’s deficit reduction programme has left women facing what is being termed a ‘Triple Jeopardy’, where women will be:

• hit the hardest by public sector job cuts
• hit hardest as services and benefits that they use are cut
• left filling the gap as the welfare state is rolled back

Last weeks International Women’s Day should be a celebration of women and sisterhood throughout the world, but the reality is that International Women’s Day is a stark reminder of how much there is left to do in order to achieve gender equality. Gender equality is a fight worth fighting and UNISON will never give up.

Margaret Thomas is the first female UNISON Cymru/Wales Secretary