Equality and Diversity
Prospect is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all
members irrespective of sex, marital status, ethnic origin, disability, sexuality,
age, or religion, whether it be in the workplace or in the union.
This policy forms an integral part of our bargaining agenda. We seek to improve members' conditions of employment and ensure fair treatment at work. For example, Prospect has produced a charter for women in science, engineering and technology which seeks to remove discrimination in pay systems, career development, harassment or any other form.
We also aim to ensure that all members have the opportunity to develop and achieve in their working lives whilst successfully balancing home and work, and in 2001 made a formal submission to the government setting out our policies on work and parents. We identified the following three priorities:
- Enhanced maternity leave with pay, enabling mothers to spend valuable time with their baby. This would benefit the health and well-being of mothers, as well as their babies.
- Rights for both parents to work reduced or flexible hours, encouraging a balance between home and work responsibilities. This should be a statutory right, since it has been shown that voluntary practices do not work.
- Paid parental leave and its flexible implementation, also allowing parents to balance home and work responsibilities.
We encourage all our branches to have at least one Equal Opps
Representative to specialise in equal opportunity issues and to liaise with
both the workplace and union structures. They receive a pack conmtaining
appropriate guidance to help them in their role, and briefing notes to update them on key developments.
We also have a number of networks designed to maintain contact between the union and groups of members with a common interest. Communication is primarily by mail and covers activities such as information and consultation on policies, activities, and campaigns. Networks include the following:
- Race equality
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
- Equal pay
- Disabilities
- Women in Science and Engineering (WISENET)
- Womenet
- Homeworkers
- Youth
We have a national equal opportunities advisory committee which advises our national executive committee and promotes equal opportunities generally within the union.
All our training courses are welcoming and inclusive. Equal opps reps are strongly encouraged to attend the appropriate courses, which include discrimination law and workplace equal opportunities.
