GMB North West and Irish Region Connect Magazine May 2019 | Page 4

news
“
International Women’s Day
A special event marking International Women’s Day
triggered the launch of a new campaign at the GMB
regional HQ in Columbus Quay. The campaign will
run parallel with a new course targeting “Gender
Sensitive Health & Safety” organised by the NW&I
Region.
The day of activities
on Friday, March 8
was part of a joint
effort between the
Women’s Committee
and Regional
Education office
inviting a range of
speakers with a
strong health and
safety theme aimed
initially at women
activists.
Lisa Ryan the GMB Equality Officer is delighted
with the initiative: “This is a great initiative which
will raise awareness and get people motivated
to tackle issues in the workplace that are
being ignored in most places. It is the kind of
collaboration which should inspire our members to
work together in campaigns that are relevant to our
membership regardless of any gender.”
“
Support For
Campaign
Against
Domestic
Violence
Her colleague Paul Holleran one of the GMB regional
officers who shares responsibility for education and
health and safety also believes it will be the start
of something big for the union as a whole: “If you
look at H&S regulations and legislation there is very
little which highlights the additional difficulties that
specifically affect women.
Women should be
able to speak out
about domestic
violence and get
help and support in
the workplace.
But if you look at the
union’s campaign
around “Menstruation
to Menopause” the
union is challenging
the fact there are lots
of gaps in the law and
culture when it comes
to women’s health,
safety and welfare.
Video - Sandy Walton - Centre 56
Claire Hargreaves, chair of the Women’s
Network introduced the speakers for the
event before Kerry Nash, a GMB activist
within the Women’s Network and NHS
campaign, delivered her own presentation on
the Menopause. Sandy Walton a community
activist also addressed the 30-odd women
on some of her support work in and around
domestic violence.
In a quick interview Kerry said: “We are here
to raise the issue of women’s
“Our reps and employers need to be more aware of
physical and mental issues related to added problems
facing women of all ages. When disciplinary or
capability problems arise how aware are people of the
potential disruption of Pre-Menstrual Tension (PMT)
or the Menopause to a woman’s well-being? The
additional stress that these conditions can cause have
to be understood and taken into consideration when
we are representing female members.
health and safety and I explained the
problems attached to menopause
which can impact on women at work.
It was a really good turnout and a day
that will be totally relevant to the needs
of our members. If we want to recruit
and retain women members then these
issues need to be right up front on a
daily basis in the workplaces, with the
GMB leading the way.”
“There are other issues around
harassment, low pay, low job
satisfaction, shift-work that can
all impact on women and their
position in society.
Video - Kerry Nash
Menopause in the workplace
4
inbrief ...
THE NEW
CAMPAIGN
AROUND GENDER
SENSITIVE
HEALTH AND
SAFETY
It is the kind of
collaboration which
should inspire our
members to work
together in campaigns
that are relevant to
our membership
regardless of any
gender.
MENOPAUSE
The additional stress
that these conditions
can cause have to be
understood and taken
into consideration
when we are
representing female
members
OTHER AREAS OF
CONCERN
There are other issues
around harassment,
low pay, low job
satisfaction, shift-
work that can all
impact on women
and their position in
society
Video - Lisa Ryan
Women face
other challenges in
the workplace
news
Paul Holleran
KERRY NASH
GMB activist within
the Women’s Network
and NHS campaign,
delivered her own
presentation on the
Menopause
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