Take care – lack of funding means workplaces are more hazardous More women in rep roles
The TUC has carried out research into women and the safety rep role via focus groups in July-October 2022. Around 100 women took part in groups of 10, with some for specific unions (PCU, FBU, RMT) and several mixed groups.
These included women safety reps; women union reps in roles other than health and safety; and women activists without specific health and safety or rep roles.
Topics included among many others the direct experience of health and safety in workplaces; the extent of gender and sexism; what issues do members bring to them; considering becoming a safety rep; if so, what attracted them, and if not, what put them off?
Unsurprisingly, pressures of time and workloads, including training, are discouraging many women.
Dealing with an environment still heavily male-dominated can be challenging even to experienced reps, who may be the only woman in a meeting or the
only woman rep in the company. They feel taken less seriously, or are pushed towards ‘female-specific’ roles that are not their job. The ‘boys’ club’ is experienced as an ‘invisible barrier’, even when colleagues are individually supportive.
With the workforce ageing, the effects of menopause are very significant to women workers, as this can negatively affect their sense of wellbeing (often suddenly) at any time. Access to personal temperature control is important, including work clothing, PPI or uniforms that can be quickly reduced or adjusted. This is a real concern, but may appear trivial to those not affected.
In general, training was seen as a burden for both workers and bosses. Some managers had refused relevant training. The advantages, on the other hand, from those who took the plunge, were increased confidence and respect from colleagues, the opportunity to learn and to facilitate change, and the easing of caseloads where more than one rep was involved, which is at
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present very rare. The possibility of modular training was raised, rather than having to take time off work, along with the benefits of training arranged by the unions or the TUC. With many more people now online savvy following Covid, this is more accessible.
The meetings were carried out online, which also allowed greater privacy.
Said Unite senior rep Monique Mosley, “Always remember you were
chosen by the members to be their voice and that voice is of those who cannot or do not want to speak up. Remember when times get a little tough, there is an entire union behind you with help, support or just a kind word. And that even the smallest win is still a victory!”
FIND OUT MORE
See IER and TUC websites respectively.
Alamy
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