• 10 June 09: Sexual Offences Bill Passed

Workplace Fair Place card

Click here for a PDF version of the card to print out

Fill in and return your Workplace Fair Place card by the 5th of June to be entered into a prize draw. The winning card will be used on the cover of the Equality Reps handbook and the creators of the top three cards will also receive prizes. The cards will form part of an exhibition at this year's UNISON National Delegate Conference. Don't forget to add your name and branch clearly on the card!
LAOS
UNISON Freepost WC5652
London WC1H 9BR

A message from Rape Crisis: Thanks to all of you who have completed the Rape Cr isis survey on Intimate Partner Sexual Violence. When we undertook this survey we anticipated around 200 responses at most, however to date we have had over 900 responses from women across the UK, but predominantly in Scotland. This has given us an extremely valuable insight into many issues around domestic abuse/sexual abuse and why intimate partner sexual violence is still the most hidden aspect of violence against women.

The survey will close on 28^th March 2009. If you have not already taken part, please do so before this date. All the contributions made to date have been invaluable to us and we will publish our findings as soon as our analysis is complete.

The link to our survey is: http://www.surveymonkey.com
/s.aspx?sm=1MbF_2b6HdMQ9Tdpzh_2f_2fYQZw_3d_3d

Thanks

'Just below the surface' is a new initiative from Fawcett designed to raise public awareness of sexism at work, as part of Fawcett's Sexism and the City campaign.
Click here for the campaign. Read real-life accounts of sexism, download the briefing, send our e-postcard to a friend, order materials, share your experiences.

fpa campaigns for women's rights to abortion in Northern ireland - sign the petition (External site - It must not be assumed that UNISON Scotland subscribes to any of the content or principles external sites)

Abortion time limit vote - decisive win for women (click here for more details onm Abortion Rights website).

National updates

• OBJECT, who we passed conference policy in support of in February, are running a campaign with Fawcett to get lap dancing clubs reclassified as Sex Encounter Establishments, more info here http://www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=7332

  As a part of our Women into Public Life campaign we are publicising the work of the Women's National Commission to encourage more women to apply for public appointments. http://www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=7333

  Two new websites have been launched to help parents discuss how they organise work and caring, and what changes are needed - the results will be fed into the Equality and Human Rights Commission http://www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=7334

  UNISON is supporting the End Child Poverty Demonstration - 4th October, Trafalgar Square. Keep the Promise. See more information here - please support the demo http://www.unison.org.uk/file/B4142.pdf
  

• TUC supports campaign to stop violence against Iraqi women. Click here for details and to sign the online petition.
• WOZA members beaten in the streets of Bulawayo on International Women's Day March 8, 2008 - click here to write to protest
  Over 1,000 members of WOZA and MOZA marched through the streets of Bulawayo today to commemorate International Women's Day. The peaceful protesters, who were carrying balloons, were met by riot police after four blocks and viciously beaten. Over 50 members received medical attention for injuries caused by the assault.
• Abortion Rights' update on proposals to change the abortion law going through parliament
• War on Want fashion victim campaign Click here for a draft letter to send to Tesco, Primark etc. See more at the War on Want campaign website
• Stop Violence Against Women - Show Your Support in 3 Simple Steps!
• Scottish Womens Convention consultation invites
• Bodyform supports Dignity! Period campaign
• Women's Studies at Ruskin
• Domestic Abuse Briefing
• Raise The Roof on Domestic Violence - Survey Report
• STUC Womens Committee Report
• Scottish Executive Consultations
• Links of special interest to Womens Organisation

Women in UNISONScotland:

Women form the majority of UNISON members in Scotland. UNISON structures like 'proportionality' attempt to make sure that the women are represented at all levels in the union, at least at a level that reflects their proportion of the membership. If the membership is 65% women, then the leadership should be at least 65% women.

Womens Organisation in UNISONScotland addresses the discrimination women face and provides a forum and structures to promote issues that particularly affect women in the workplace and in society in general. Family care, low pay and domestic violence are just some examples of current campaigns.

Womens Committee
Chair	Secretary
Davena Rankin Chair     Gillian Dick Vice Chair	Eileen Dinning e.dinning@unison.co.uk
Committee: Sandra Kennie Margaret Ferris Morag Houston Julie Ballantyne Liz Mackay Carol Ball Cathy Miller Margaret Bean Jane Carolan Angela Lynes Katrina Murray Carol Peggie Sofi Taylor Carrie Milligan	Pat Rowland Tamara Mhura Dawn Marie Hooks Ali MacKenzie Morag Campbell Norma Black Rose Bambrick Barbara Fulton Ann Darroch Liz Bruce Sheila Meikle Elizabeth Rankin Fiona Smith