Encourage men to take the White Ribbon Pledge
White Ribbon UK’s mission is for all men to promise never to commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women. Do you know any men who could take the white ribbon pledge? Find out more.
Equality, respect and safety for LGBT workers
The TUC has launched a petition demanding action to address the inequality experienced by LGBT+ people at work. This is off the back of the Conservative Government's response to the open letter from unions to Liz Truss.
They are calling on the Government to:
- reinstate employment tribunals’ powers to make wider recommendations to employers, to root out systemic failings and cultures of bullying and harassment.
- recruit a new LGBT Advisory Panel, with a clear mandate and trade union representation.
Stronger legal rights to flexible working
Over four out of five workers in Britain want flexible working yet too many people are missing out. The Government must ensure all workers have stronger legal rights to flexibility.
The TUC and Mother Pukka are calling on the Government to:
- Give all workers the right to flexible working from day 1 in the job.
- Introduce a duty to make employers publish flexible work options in job adverts.
- Bring in 10 days’ full paid carers leave, for all parents.
Treat Long Covid as a disability
It’s high time for people with Long Covid to be properly protected at work. The TUC is calling on the Government to:
- Automatically recognise Long Covid as a disability under the Equality Act, so workers are protected from discrimination and have a legal right to reasonable adjustments like longer rest breaks and flexible hours.
- Ensure a right to compensation, so anyone who contracts Long Covid through work can be properly compensated for loss of income and injury.
We need a maximum working temperature
We need an absolute maximum working temperature to keep people safe from the risks associated with excessive heat and sun exposure.
Trade unions want to see the law changed, so that employers and workers know when action must be taken to keep workers cooler and safer.
While official guidance exists for a *minimum* working temperature of 16°C, there is no law to guide bosses on what a maximum should be. It's time to protect working people feeling the heat!
Campaigning against unfair changes to the State Pension Age imposed on women born in the 1950s.
Women face a sharp increase in the length of their working lives as the Government has increased their State Pension age.
The 1995 Pensions Act increased the State Pension age for women from 60 to 65 between April 2010 and 2020, to bring it in line with that of men.
However, in 2011 the Coalition Government accelerated the rise in the women’s state pension age from April 2016 so that it reached 65 by November 2018, then rising to 66 by 2020.
Those women born in the 1950s have been the most affected, with some having to work for up to an extra six years, and being given little notice of these changes.
A campaign has been set up to challenge this decision and the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign recently took a huge step in their battle. The UK Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has called on the Government to pay out compensation to the women affected by the change in age to the state pension.
WASPI women are campaigning for ‘fair transitional arrangements’. Whilst they are not against equalising the state pension age for men and women, they believe that the Government:
- did not notify the affected women after initial changes were made in the Pensions Act 1995; and
- then unfairly accelerated the increase to their State Pension age in the Pensions Act 2011.
To find out more visit:
www.waspi.co.uk
Become a Blood Donor
Why give blood? Donated blood is a lifeline for many people needing long-term treatments, not just in emergencies. Your blood's main components - red cells, plasma and platelets - are vital for many different uses.
Not enough new donors are coming forward to provide the right mix of blood to match patients' needs and replace those who can’t donate any more. Help ensure that patients in the future have access to the blood they need, when they need it.
Find out more and register to become a blood donor: http://www.blood.co.uk
Become an Organ Donor
Transplants can save or greatly enhance the lives of other people. But this relies on donors and their families agreeing to donate their organ or tissue.
You can give your consent by:
- joining the NHS Organ Donor Register, or
- telling a relative or close friend about your decision to donate.
Find out more at:
https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk
#iwill - National Campaign Promoting Youth Social Action
The campaign aims to make involvement in social action part of life for more 10-20 year olds around the UK. Youth social action is defined as ‘young people taking practical action in the service of others to create positive change’ and includes activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering.
Usdaw has pledged to encourage members to either take part in or support youth social action as a recognised route for personal development and to make a positive impact in communities.
We believe in the power of youth social action to get young people ready for the world of work and to play an active part in their communities. We pledge to:
- Encourage our members who are under 20 to take part in social action as a recognised route for personal development and to make a positive impact in communities.
- Support our membership to take a leadership role in inspiring young people to contribute to society and to advocate the value of youth social action amongst our members' networks and other trade unionists.
- Contact the employers we work with to encourage them to pledge their support for the campaign.
- Communicate our support for the #iwill campaign through our communication channels.
Find out more at: http://www.iwill.org.uk
Robin Hood Tax
This tax on the financial sector has the power to raise hundreds of billions every year globally. It could give a vital boost to the NHS, our schools, and the fight against child poverty in the UK – as well as tackling poverty and climate change around the world.
Find out more at: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk