FDA attends TUC Women’s Conference 2025

A delegation of FDA members attended TUC Women’s Conference 2025, held in Congress House, London, from 5-7 March.

The conference is one of a series of Equality Conferences held by the TUC every year, which also include the Young Workers’ Conference, Black Workers’ Conference, Disabled Workers’ Conference and LGBT+ Conference. The conferences provide opportunities for union representatives across the wider trade union movement to come together and discuss key issues and priorities.

The FDA moved two motions, the first on breaking down the barriers women face to entering management and leadership positions. The motion which was seconded by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and received support from NASUWT and Unite. The second was based on the FDA’s report, The CPS’s role in increasing prosecution of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO)’ which calls for additional resourcing of the justice system to increase prosecutions of RASSO. The motion was seconded by Prospect and Unite spoke in support of it.

The FDA’s delegation was led by the union’s President Margaret Haig, who said: “It was brilliant to have such a full delegation for TUC Women’s Conference, plus a few visitors, and I was delighted to lead such an enthusiastic and committed group of extraordinary women. We had new speakers on our motions and speaking in support of others, and both of our motions passed. It was great to feel that we were all working towards the conference aim of #ResistPersistDeliver along with our sister unions. I left conference feeling energised and wanting to make a difference to the working lives of women.”

Attendees heard from a panel discussing black women’s experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace, based on a report by the TUC highlighting the issue. Conference also heard from an international panel of representatives from across the global trade union movement discussed the challenges women in the workplace face around the world.

Emma Kinloch, Branch Secretary for the FDA’s Scottish Government Branch, discussed her experience at the conference, saying: “TUC Women’s conference was a great opportunity to meet with fellow feminists from both the FDA and the wider union movement – to share and learn from each other about the challenges women still face in the workplace.

“I picked up a copy of the report of the ‘12^th Annual Conference of Unions catering for Women Workers’ held in 1942. Looking through the conference report I was struck how similar issues were to those women are still campaigning for in 2025 – from equal pay, access to affordable and good quality childcare, and fighting for better conditions for part-time workers. This fuels our work to press forward to make change for women in our movement.

“I was proud to see the FDA propose (and conference support) a motion on prosecutions for rape and serious sexual assault (RASSO). The motion calls on TUC Women’s Committee to support the recommendations of the FDA’s recent report on the subject, with specific reference to campaigning for a single violence against women and girls and RASSO strategy, working with trade unions on policy to provide additional support to victims through union and employer action, and to coordinate intersectional research on this topic.”

Managers in Partnership (MiP – the FDA’s joint venture with Unison) rep Julie Siddique said: “Attending the TUC Women’s Conference as an FDA delegate representing Managers in Partnership (MiP) was both an honour and an empowering experience. I had the privilege of speaking and moving Motion 36 – Women in Management and Leadership Roles, highlighting the ongoing challenges women face in advancing into senior positions and the need for meaningful action to break down barriers.

“The conference provided an invaluable platform to discuss workplace equality, leadership development, and the systemic changes required to support women in management. Engaging with fellow delegates, hearing their experiences, and standing in solidarity with like-minded colleagues reinforced the importance of collective action in driving change.”

Monika Gupta, who also attended as a representative for MiP, said: “Attending the 2025 TUC Women’s Conference as a delegate has been both inspiring and energizing. The discussions on workplace equality, fair pay, and protecting women’s rights have reinforced the urgent need for collective action.

“I’m committed to taking these conversations forward – amplifying women’s voices, pushing for tangible changes, and ensuring that workplaces are truly inclusive. Together, we can drive progress and make lasting change.”

Laura Bright, who is a member of the FDA’s Fast Stream Section, attended the Conference for the first time this year. Bright spoke in support of Motion 31, moved by Prospect, ‘Industrial strategy is a women’s issue’. On her experience as a first time delegate, Bright said: “The TUC Women’s Conference is the first time I’ve been involved with the FDA outside of my section and the first time I’ve attended anything at the TUC. 

“Despite not feeling like I had much to offer before attending, I ended up speaking in support of a motion that I cared about, and found out I had much more to contribute than I thought! I met some amazing women from across the union as well as from other unions. I’d really recommend attending a TUC conference to anyone interested. It’s a wonderful experience.”

FDA Vice President Leila Kelly said: “It was a joy to spend time with the other women in the FDA delegation, and I was proud to move the FDA’s motion on increasing RASSO prosecutions. I really valued the opportunity to learn from women in other trade unions. I certainly look at many things in a different light now and have a better understanding of the challenges facing women in other industries, such as transport workers, teachers and prison officers.”