{"id":17101,"date":"2019-01-29T15:50:13","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T15:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=17101"},"modified":"2020-11-12T12:57:46","modified_gmt":"2020-11-12T12:57:46","slug":"first-small-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=17101","title":{"rendered":"‘First small step’"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Unite is passionate about ensuring that all its members regardless of race or gender throughout all its sectors are not discriminated in the workplace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This commitment is demonstrated by the work that Unite is undertaking in sectors such as construction, where women are currently very much a minority of the workforce. To better understand the challenges that women experience in construction, Unite recently surveyed our female members working in the sector. The response rate was phenomenal and provided vital insights into the working lives of women in construction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The majority of respondents (65.3 per cent) said their employer had failed to make adjustments to accommodate their needs as women workers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One member summed up the issues members face: \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIn a perceived male dominated workforce, you have your skills and abilities regularly doubted mainly because you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a woman and some men almost feel threatened when you complete a job better than male colleagues. Some if not all men at first can be extremely patronising towards you, questioning your job or presume you work in an office.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Aside from issues about pay equality, the dominant concern that arose from the survey concerned welfare facilities: the lack of clean toilets, the supply of sanitary bins and shower facilities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For example a member gave a graphic account of her frustrations, on trying to use a women\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s toilet on a construction site: \u00e2\u20ac\u015bToilets for females are a basic requirement but are usually locked, you have to seek the key from someone so by the time you find the person usually male with the key and after asking several people also usually male, half the site know you want to use a loo and when you open the door guess what it is usually being used for storage.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unite has been running a period dignity campaign across the whole union. The campaign is about period poverty because some workers struggle to pay for sanitary products. Unite\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s campaign has been very successful with many organisations adopting it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our survey clearly demonstrated that for period dignity to be achieved for women construction workers the campaign needed to be more wide ranging.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unite is now asking construction companies to sign up to four simple policies to achieve period dignity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Designated female toilets, always accessible, regularly cleaned and lockable<\/p>\n

2.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Handwashing facilities with running water and soap provided<\/p>\n

3.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Sanitary bins provided which are clean and regularly emptied<\/p>\n

4.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Sanitary products provided in a dispenser in a discreet location and ideally free.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The first site to endorse Unit\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s campaign was the Glasgow University campus being built by Multiplex and a campaign pack to ensure other sites follow Multiplex\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lead is in the hands of all the union\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reps.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Implementing these simple four steps will make a significant improvement to the lives of women construction workers, judging by the comments our members made including:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThere are female toilets available but generally the ones on site are unisex portals. These are usually disgusting.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI have to keep my sanitary products in my toolbox because there are no machines in the toilets. I have been told to keep them in a drawer but I don’t work in office?\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAsked for sanitary bins, got ignored. If a female says anything they don’t like, they put it down to PMT.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Construction is facing ever growing skills shortages and by effectively excluding half the population means the industry is trying to tackle the problem with one arm tied behind its back. Sadly, while there is a shortage of construction apprentices across the board it remains much more difficult for women applicants to secure a training berth. In total nine per cent of male applicants eventually secure a construction apprenticeship while the figure for women is just six per cent.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Achieving period dignity for women in construction is a small first step to making the construction industry fit for purpose for women in our industry. Employers who step up to the mark and do what is right have a far greater chance of retaining and attracting a skilled workforce.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unite will not stop campaigning until women construction members achieve full equality in this sector.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n