Women's Equality

Some of the work that the Women's Representative Committee (WRC) has been involved with include:

Womens Survey - The Women’s Representative Committee recently undertook a survey of all of the female members with the aim of finding out about their experiences in the railway and of the union. The Labour Research Department wrote the analysis of the survey and the executive summary. A full version of the report is avaliable here: 

LRD Womens Survey Results 2011

A Charter for Women - The Committee have been looking at ways of implementing the Charter within ASLEF. The Charter calls for a number of demands that the majority of TUC affiliated unions in the UK are supporting. ASLEF is represented on the Charter for Women Steering Group The Steering Group is currently encouraging unions not affiliated to the Charter to sign up.

Maternity Rights - The WRC has produced best practice Maternity guidelines from the policies produced by the TOCs and FOCs and are available in the WRC's Guide to Reps below.

Cancer Screening - The WRC instigated a motion to AAD calling for all time off for cancer screening to be paid leave paid for by the employers. This motion gained the complete support of conference as it was not only mean breast and cervical cancer screening, but prostate and testicular cancer. Health and Safety has been a priority for the WRC members for some time, and they have particularly raised concerns about health and safety issues specific to women e.g. Toxic Shock Syndrome

Menopause Policy – The WRC have produced a best practice guide for dealing with the menopause in the workplace. A copy is avaliable below:

ASLEF Menopause best practice

Toilet Facilities –As a direct result of a motion from the WRC the TUC launched their 'Give us a (loo) break' campaign. The campaign calls for paid toilet breaks and appropriate facilities. The WRC are still trying to work towards achieving minimum standards for all our members.

ITF and ETF - Members of the WRC have been involved in conferences and seminars organised by the ITF and ETF during the course of the year. Events such as the ITF Congress, Womens Conference and Women in Rail seminars have been attached.

TUC – The WRC sends a delegation to the Women’s TUC Conference every year. In 2011 ASLEF submitted motions on the outsourcing of services and the plight of women in Haiti.

The Women’s Representative Committee have written a guide to assist reps in understanding women’s issues in the workplace. It covers issues like pregnancy, maternity leave, parental leave, toilet facilities, sexual harrassment and more. To view the Womens Representative Committee's Guide for Reps click on the icon:

International issues:

Colombia -The WRC have been supporting trade union sisters in Colombia who are face daily imprisonment and 'disappearance' because of their trade union activities. Justice for Colombia's offices are based at ASLEF head office.

The Womens Representative Committee produces a newsletter called 'Sisters on the Move'. This is available to all women members, if you do not recieve your copy please contact Head Office on 020 7324 2400. Alternatively you can view a copy online.

Each year the WRC choose charities to support. In 2011 they have agreed to champion the work of The Samaritans and Street Talk.