The second day of UNISON national women’s conference opened with a speech from president Catherine McKenna (pictured above).
Ms McKenna, from the union’s Belfast branch, works at the education authority in Northern Ireland and has been a UNISON member for 18 years.
“It is a privilege to stand here today, in a room full of women who quite literally keep our public services running,” she said.
“Women who campaign, who organise, who care, who fight, and who never stop pushing for a fairer world—often while carrying twice the load and getting half the recognition.
“UNISON is the biggest union in the UK, and the majority of our members are women. That is something we celebrate—not as a statistic but as a source of immense strength.
“Across hospitals, schools, councils, colleges, care homes, police staff roles, and every corner of public service, women are holding things together. You are the backbone of the NHS. You are the heart of social care. You are the voice of dignity and fairness across our communities.
“But with that strength comes the reality that women are disproportionately exposed to low pay, insecure work, poor maternity protections, and the frontline impacts of violence, harassment, and discrimination.”
Ms McKenna outlined how UNISON is fighting for a host of pressing issues for women:
- fair pay for public service workers;
- safe staffing levels across health,
- social care, and education;
- secure contracts,
- predictable hours and decent work;
- robust sexual harassment policies that protect women, not reputations;
- flexible working rights that actually reflect women’s lives and
- proper funding for public services.
The gender pay gap
“We cannot talk about women’s equality without confronting one of the most stubborn injustices in our workplaces. The gender pay gap,” said Ms McKenna.
“For all the progress women have fought for and won, the reality remains that women across public services and across the whole economy are still paid less than men. Not because of talent. Not because of ambition. But because the system continues to undervalue women’s work.
“The gender pay gap,” Ms McKenna continued, “is not a gap in effort, but a gap in recognition. A gap in respect. A gap in justice.
“Let’s be honest: when women are underpaid, whole communities suffer. Families struggle. Poverty rises. And the cycle of inequality deepens. Closing the gender pay gap is not optional. It is essential. It is urgent. And it is a trade union issue through and through.”
Maternity discrimination
Ms McKenna declared the fight against maternity discrimination as a priority for UNISON, describing it as a ‘shameful, persistent inequality’.
“Far too many pregnant women still face hostility when they share the news,” she said. “Too many are sidelined, denied opportunities, pushed out of jobs, or forced to return on terms that make work impossible to balance with caring responsibilities.
“UNISON is determined to change that. We will be stronger because of the work led by activists and experts – including our collaboration with Maternity Action. Together, we are exposing bad practice, educating employers, supporting members, and demanding legal protections that truly work for women.”
Low-paid women
At the heart of the union movement, Ms McKenna said, are low-paid women.
“I want to say something personal here: I’m a low‑paid worker, and I know what it’s like to be unseen.”
This morning, UNISON launched its low-paid women’s network. This, Ms McKenna said, is “a campaign about visibility, dignity, and power. A campaign about making space for women who have been overlooked for far too long.
“We’re aiming to build regional networks of low‑paid women across UNISON – safe spaces where women can share experiences, support one another, and feel part of something bigger. Alongside this, we are developing a national network, with representatives from every region, resources, training, and real leadership opportunities.”
Women in Hebron
Ms McKenna closed her speech by championing her presidential charity, Women in Hebron.
Women in Hebron is a fair‑trade cooperative founded in 2005 providing Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank with a sustainable income through the production and sale of Palestinian handicrafts.
Catherine McKenna met the women who founded Women In Hebron on a trade union delegation to Palestine in 2019.
“As we all know, life has become very tough in the West Bank with increased attacks, movement restrictions and job losses.
“Their struggle speaks to the power of collective action and the importance of standing together when times are hard.
“Every act of support helps these women, continue to provide for their families and keep their culture alive.”
Closing her speech to conference, Ms McKenna concluded, “Thank you for the change that you create. Thank you very much.”
Watch Catherine McKenna’s full speech on YouTube
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