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

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

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

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

Francis O’Grady

Austerity

Ford Dagenham Strike 1968

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

Feminism

We can do it!