Our campaign has been asked to draft a possible resolution for people to raise at their union branches. This is our first attempt. Please make suggestions. From the foundation of the unions, women members have fought on these issues. Time to do it again. Men are most welcome to help, as are all humans

“Conference believes every woman, without exception, including our members and their families, has the right to safe, respectful, and local Maternity care.

Conference believes Maternity services must listen to women and treat them as adults capable of making decisions during pregnancy and labour.

Conference mourns the women and babies who have lost their lives in this crisis, especially those for whom better care would have changed the outcome. We  recognise that many other women have suffered physical and psychological harm,

Conference condemns the deterioration of Maternity outcomes for women in the UK over the last 20 years, at a time when the rest of the world ( except the USA)has dramatically improved such outcomes.

Conference recognises this is part of the conscious damage to the NHS.

Conference demands that the government immediately improve the situation for women having babies, for the babies, for the staff and the whole service.

Conference condemns closures in maternity units, especially as this will mean women being expected to travel long distances in labour.

Conference recognises the right of women to choose physiological (natural) childbirth) or caesareans.

Conference stands firmly with the midwives and other health workers in the Maternity system. They too have been damaged by understaffing, bullying, and disrespect.

Conference agrees to survey our members to understand their experiences of maternity services; working people should be able to afford to have children. Conference further agrees to include maternity issues in union education and campaigns.

Respected reports from MBRRACE by Donna Ockendon and Valerie Amos have documented the decline in UK maternity safety, funding, and staffing. There were 20 previous reports. We do not need more evidence; we need action.

Conference recognises that women in poorer areas and black and brown women suffer much worse maternity outcomes. Conference condemns the charges that migrant women face in giving birth.

Conference recognises that more money is spent on payouts for damages to women and babies in the service than the government pays for all Maternity services.

Conference congratulates the many campaigns on this issue, especially those challenging inequalities.

Conference agrees to survey our members to see how they have experienced Maternity services.

Conference demands that women have access to decent financial support whilst pregnant and on Maternity leave.

Conference supports demand for better paternity leave.

Conference believes that workers should be able to afford to have children. Many who want to have children simply cannot afford to.

Conference condemns the level of poverty amongst women with children and will continue to fight for pay for all our members sufficient to raise a family.

Conference believes safe Maternity care is a trade union issue and that trade union women have long fought for this.”