Equality reps

'The workforce has become much more diverse in recent decades: the population is ageing, in 2014 for the first time the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to exceed those aged under 16; the ethnic minority population has grown by 50% since 1991; 2.5 million people are struggling to combine work with caring responsibilities; and the proportion of working age women in employment is 70%; two-thirds of couples with dependent children are both working.'

TUC Equality Reps Project Report, June 2009

Current UCU equality rep courses [135kb]

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UCU equality reps and officers will work within branches to promote equality with the employer and union members. This could include looking at issues such as:

• flexible working
• absence management
• discriminatory practices
• equal pay
• equality impact assessments.

They also ensure that UCU's national annual meetings, and any other relevant events and opportunities for women, black members, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members and disabled members are publicised locally, that members from all groups are encouraged to participate, and that the branch maximises the opportunities for recruitment and organisation amongst all groups.

Equality reps are key in developing and sustaining national and local equality networks.

See also:

Equality

Organising for equality - the role of the equality officer:
Word version [168kb] | PDF file [147kb]