Celebrating Women in the BFAWU

Throughout March, Women’s history Month, we will be celebrating the fantastic women we have in the BFAWU.

34% of our membership identifies as female, this number has dropped in recent years largely in line with the overall trade union movement.

When you look at the demographics of our reps base, this percentage drops further, only 22% of our branch secretaries are female, 24% of our shop stewards and Union learner reps and shockingly only 17% of our health and safety reps identify as female.

Representation of Women on our National Executive Council has significantly reduced and we have found it difficult filling the women’s seats on our two national committees.

As an Executive Council, we know this needs to change, women play a vital role in our union, and we need to make sure that there are opportunities for women to become more active, take on leadership roles and help develop our union going forwards.

Over the last 12 months in our Women’s Network meetings we have had rich discussions covering the following points:

• Retirement & Pension Inequality: Many women face financial insecurity due to rising retirement ages and state pension restrictions. The care system forces working-class families into financial hardship.
• Sexual Harassment & Workplace Protections: Employers failing to update policies despite new legislation—union must educate and pressure for change.
• Encouraging Female Leadership & Activism: Many women lack confidence to take on leadership roles, despite having the necessary skills. Barrier’s like childcare, cost, and biased hiring must be addressed. Women’s History Month 2025 campaign to showcase female union leaders.
• Alternative Economic Models & Community Support: Corporation Towns as a model for economic justice—potential union collaboration.
• Worsening Workplace Conditions & Economic Hardship: Toxic work environments and job insecurity increasing. Zero-hour contracts leaving workers financially vulnerable. Austerity’s impact on women’s financial independence.

These conversations led to the idea of Celebrating Women in the BFAWU during the month of March, where active women from now and the past will be showcased, talking about why they got involved in the BFAWU or the impact they had on other people in the union.

We hope this will be the start of encouraging other Women to step forward for roles in their branches and the wider union, because our union needs their voices if we are going to grow as an inclusive organisation that develops and has opportunities for everyone!

We do hope you like the posts and that it encourages you to celebrate the women in your branch, region or even union – there will be a few blogs here too from the women who felt able to share a longer contribution.

Collectively, we can Accelerate Action for gender equality.

But that has to start in our trade unions and the BFAWU is committed to empowering and engaging our members, especially women.

Solidarity Always

Sarah