RMT WOMEN MEET

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 :: RMTnews 20 Transport women workers from across the country vowed to put maternity leave and anti- harassment policies at the heart of their union work at the RMT women's conference in Manchester earlier this month. Delegates battled the snow to make it to conference and unveiled the revised RMT Women's Charter as part of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the national RMT women’s conference. Delegates vowed to use the new updated RMT women's charter as a “campaigning document” throughout the transport industry. Conference agreed that it was a tool to be used by all members to acknowledge that women still suffer discrimination. Even though there are a variety of laws to defend women, the reality is that they can have worse conditions at work and ultimately feel that they are being pushed out due lack of support, particularly around maternity issues. The charter deals with a number of issues in-depth including the fight for equality of pay and equal terms and conditions. Back in 1970 the Equal Pay Act was introduced to end pay inequality between men and women. That Act is now part of the Equality Act 2010, but the difference between male and female wages can be huge where employees are not covered by collective agreements. Women should not be paid less than their colleagues if the work is the same or of equal value in terms of the demands of the job. One of the key issues affecting members are the various maternity leave policies that operate across the rail network and the women's conference was keen something must be done. Speaking in support of the motion, former RMT executive member Michelle Rodgers said that it would be really beneficial for managers having a handbook. “Managers have no guidelines on how to deal with this issue and reps would benefit from knowing the guidelines too,” she said. Fellow former national executive member Kathy Mazur RMT WOMEN MEET RMT women members launch new charter and call for improved maternity leave and anti-harassment policies