AMID the biggest wave of industrial action by women workers perhaps in history, our international wpmen’s day event will celebrate the vital contributions that women make in our unions and our communities.

Many work in traditionally undervalued, underpaid but absolutely essential roles. If the Covid lockdowns showed us anything, it was that the workers we most rely upon are mainly in roles regarded as women’s work. Carers, cleaners, cooks, nurses and healthcare staff, to name but a few. 

As trade unionists we hoped that a recognition of this would see those jobs valued more and paid better. How wrong we were. The Thursday evenings “clapping for carers” have been long forgotten as we revert to business as usual.