Unite, the UK’s construction
Unite has launched its campaign after a survey of its women construction members found that a lack of facilities, when women were having their periods, was a major issue for many workers.
Unite has a four-point plan to ensure construction period dignity and is asking companies to sign up to:
1. Ensure each site or depot has a designated female toilet, which is always accessible, regularly cleaned and lockable
2. Handwashing facilities with running water and soap are provided in all welfare facilities
3. Sanitary bins are provided, and they are cleaned and emptied regularly
4. Sanitary products are provided in a dispenser in a discreet location, free to workers.
Unite activists have been supplied with letters, posters, leaflets and a petition in order to lobby their employer to ensure that Unite’s period dignity campaign is adopted at their workplace.
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “Unite is asking construction employers to sign up to four basic demands which will ensure that women workers can experience period dignity. With ever-growing skills shortages in our industry, it is absolutely essential that construction becomes more attractive to women workers. A small step in achieving this is to ensure that women construction workers can have
Unite’s construction period campaign is an extension of the union’s period dignity campaign which was launched last year. The construction period dignity campaign has additional demands in recognition of the lack of facilities too often found in construction.