This website provides resources and information on equality for trade union reps and members and also for employers. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please see our Equality Reps Network page.

The Wales TUC takes on a broad remit to cover all aspects of equality, including migrant workers, child poverty, vulnerable workers and other social issues.

We aim to support unions, employers and employees to understand what rights and duties that people have in the workplace. We also provide training, resources, events and campaigns to raise awareness and provide support. Scroll down the page for events and updates.

Please keep on checking back as more resources will be added on a regular basis.

This website originated from the Equal at Work project which was a 2 year project, funded by BERR (formerly DTI), and run by the Wales TUC from June 2006 to July 2008. For more on the project please see the About Us page.

Seminar to discuss new challenges and solutions on equal pay: organised as part of the Wales Close the Pay Gap Campaign

This one day Equal Pay seminar will provide you with an update on recent legislation and provide practical examples of how other organisations have overcome the barriers to achieving equal pay for women and men. We shall facilitate you in developing a programme of action that is specific to your workplace with access to equality experts who can support you.

The seminar objectives are to:
• Provide up-to-date information about recent legal developments on equal pay
• Bring together employer and union reps to make progress in closing pay gap
• Strengthen employer-union partnerships through identifying barriers and solutions
• Develop workplace specific actions and supporting your leadership role
• Signpost practical follow up support for the employer-union partnerships.

You are encouraged to attend in partnership with your employer so that you can develop a shared understanding of the issues for your workplace and draft a programme of actions to take forward following the seminar. Individual applications are also welcomed.

The seminars are organised as part of the Close the Pay Gap Campaign, which is a partnership between the Wales TUC, EHRC and Welsh Assembly Government.

Seminars will take place in all parts of Wales on the following dates:

North and Mid Wales (Llandudno) 21st January
South West Wales (Camarthen) 29th January
South East Wales (Cardiff) 5th February

Please use the attached forms below (one for employers and one for reps) for applications and return no later than 2 weeks prior to your seminar date.

Contact Derek Walker on dwalker@tuc.org.uk for more information

Equal Pay Seminar Application form - Welsh (word doc)

Equal Pay Seminar Application form - English (word doc)

Wales TUC Women’s Conference will be held on October 20th 2008 at The Dragon Hotel, Swansea. This conference is open to women trade union members only.

Wales TUC Challenging Racism Conference will be held on the afternoon of October 21st 2008, also at the Dragon Hotel, Swansea. We encourage unions to send black and minority ethnic members, although the conference is open to all trade union members.

For both of these conferences you will need to be on your union’s delegation. Please contact your union’s regional officer to express an interest in attending.

Both of these conferences will have motions debate to decide policy for the year ahead. We strongly encourage all unions to submit a motion to both conferences and the deadline for motions is Friday 3rd October 2008.

We will be holding a pan-equality event in between these two conferences, on the morning of the 21st October. This pan-equality event will be open to all who are interested in equality issues.

The agenda for the pan-equality event is still to be set but will include speakers on topics such as the Single Equality Bill, and workshops on generic equality issues. More details and registration information will be provided soon. Please contact Natasha Hirst on nhirst@tuc.org.uk for more information.

The Wales TUC and Trade Unions in Wales are committed to supporting the campaign to end child poverty.

The End Child Poverty Campaign is organising a rally on Saturday October 4th in Trafalgar Square - please visit the End Child Poverty website for more details, or contact your union to find out if they are organising transport to the event.

The Budget 2009 is the last realistic chance for the Government to meet the 2010 target and keep alive its promise to end child poverty. The Keep the Promise March will be the UK’s biggest ever event to end child poverty this year to demand a better future for all our children.

Child Poverty - Keeping the Promise

Part of the Wales TUC 2008 Policy Seminar Series
Thursday 28 August 2008
12pm - 2pmat the Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay

Buffet Lunch served 12pm - 12:30pm

Child poverty really exists in Britain today. Hundreds of thousands of children go without birthday parties, school trips or having friends round for tea because their parents are too poor to afford these ‘extras’. Unions are campaigning to persuade the Government to invest the extra £4bn needed to halve child poverty by 2010. We would all be better off in a Britain without child poverty: help turn that dream into a reality.

With a list of experts on the front-line of the campaign in Wales and the UK to End Child Poverty, find out the facts about child poverty, what action is being taken in Wales, what unions are doing and how you can be part of the campaign to Keep the Promise on 4 October 2008.

Child Poverty Seminar programme

Please RSVP: chartwell@tuc.org.uk

The Wales TUC Equality reps Network will be launched on June 27th, to officially set up the network that will aim to keep equality reps and officers and anybody with an interest in promoting equality, up to date with this area. the network will also invite colleagues from equality bodies across Wales, to strengthen networking and information sharing.

The event will be held in Cardiff (venue TBC due to greater interest than anticipated) from 12-2pm with a buffet lunch provided.

The network will be launched by Ruth Marks, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.

Ruth holding a discussion on how unions can work with the Commissioner’s office. This will be an opportunity to raise any issues that members have been facing with respect to age discrimination, pensions and so on.

This will be followed by a talk from Thompsons Solicitors on the Age Regulations and any case law and developments since the regulations came into force.

The event is aimed at all equality reps and officers and for any reps or members who have an interest in age issues. Please pass this on to those you think may be interested, especially to retired members networks if you have one.

Please email Clare Stisted on cstisted@tuc.org.uk to register your interest in attending.