GFTU BGCM Report 2017

Resolution 22 UK Equal Rights Framework

Implementation

(1) Conference condemns the ConDem Government for repealing sections of the Equality Act 2010 aimed at protecting workers from discrimination and harassment and attacking institutions such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Alongside many other attacks on employment rights, widespread use of zero hours contracts, attacks on collective bargaining, reducing access to justice by implementing fees for employment tribunals, conference believes the current Government is systematically dismantling the equal rights framework within the UK. (2) Conference believes charging a fee for registering a claim at a tribunal undoubtedly deters the lowest paid workers and those who are unemployed as a consequence of dismissal from registering a claim. To charge people for exercising a statutory right is an attack on equality, is unacceptable and is, in reality a denial of access to justice. In the first year on the Tribunal fees regime, applications to the Employment Tribunal was down 79% comparied to the previous 12 months. (3) The questionnaire procedure has played a key role in enabling union members to evaluate whether they should bring a claim of discrimination, and has ensured employers disclose important information relating to company procedures and policies. (4) Conference welcomes the development of Union equality reps. Conference believes that Union equality reps need a framework of support to ensure that they are supported in the work that they do. We should work hard to develop regional and national networks of Union Equality Reps. (5) Conference believes that we must work hard to achieve statutory recognition for Union Equality Representatives. We must continue to press the case with the current Government as well as ensure statutory recognition is a priority commitment for the next Labour government. (6) Conference calls on the GFTU to campaign for employment rights from day one, continue to oppose the use of Zero hour contract by employers, abolition of fees for employment tribunals and for collective rights to organise and negotiate through a trade union for better pay, terms and conditions and lobby the next Labour Government to make them unlawful. (7) Conference resolves to work with afffiliates to develop a charter for equal rights, employment rights and collective bargaining in order to rebuild our machinery for equality. Resolution 23 Women in Manufacturing, Engineering & Science (1) Conference is deeply concerned at the ongoing occupational and job segregation existing in manufacturing. Women make up just under a quarter of the UK manufacturing workforce, as compared with nearly half of the total UK workforce. (2) Although women play a key role in UK manufacturing sectors such as the food, drink and clothing sectors, the segregation is stark in science, engineering and technology (SET) with just one in twenty working women and one in three men, employed in any SET occupation. Among younger workers, women account for just 3 per cent of apprenticeships in engineering but dominate in low paid sectors. (3) Many women face problems with up-skilling, remain in lower grades and too few are employed in the management and research functions or are SET students and graduates resulting in loss of valuable skills.

Implementation This policy was in fact taken up by a number of organisations and media outlets over the two year period and many University and some prestigious organisations such as the Royal Society of Engineers took the matter forward.

Implementing 2015 Resolutions | Page 26