A Trade Union Perspective on Women’s Poverty

1. A Trade Union Perspective on Women’s Poverty Vicky Boroughs Regional Women’s and Equalities Officer UNISON South West

2. Role of Trade Unions • Women and Poverty • Austerity and how Trade Unions are challenging it • Relevance of feminism

4. Trade Union Movement • 6 million workers • Almost half women We represent the millions...... They represent the millionaires

5. Women and Poverty • Pay gap between men and women is 15% • Women twice as likely as men to rely on benefits • 64% of women workers are low paid • Women’s unemployment at its highest for 23 years

6. Francis O’Grady

7. Austerity

10. Ford Dagenham Strike 1968

11. TUC’s Campaign • Government policies that will reverse the slide in living standards • Affordable childcare • Oppose the cuts • Not shrinking the state – building alliances, raising awareness, proper taxes • Campaign for women over 50

12. Feminism

13. We can do it!