Date: Tuesday 24 July

UNISON welcomes EOC 'Gender Agenda'

Largest public service union highlights need to address discrimination in pay and at work

In welcoming today's publication of 'Completing the Revolution'; EOC Scotland's final report, which warns that sex equality is still generations away; UNISON, Scotland's largest public service trade union is urging the government to fund equal pay in the public services.

Glyn Hawker, UNISON's Scottish Organiser said; "The EOC's report and this campaign comes at a very necessary time. In particular the long and painful progress to wards equal pay in Scotland's essential public services must be resolved if we are to have a positive impact on both the pay and the status of women workers.

"It is 30 years since the Equal pay Act became law, yet 'women's work' - cleaners, caterers and carers, classroom assistants and clerical staff - is still not fairly rewarded.

"UNISON will be supporting the Gender Agenda campaign, and will be publicising it with our 160,000 plus members, to employers and to the government, who need to make money available to tackle the inequalities."

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Glyn Hawker, Scottish Organiser 07876 441 237 (m) Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 07715 583 729(m)

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