Thread by @WeAreTheMU

It’s day one of @The_TUC Women's Conference! Later on, MU member @MillicentSax will be making a speech about pregnancy & parenting in the music industry, calling for important changes in the law to make the system work for all working people. Keep up to date #TUCwomen

“In those days I was lecturing. I got on fairly well with the staff in the department, but this changed when I became pregnant” - @MillicentSax shares her story as she moves the MU’s motion on pregnancy & parenting in the music industry at @The_TUC Women's Conference #TUCWomen

“I got on fairly well with the staff in the department, but this changed when I became pregnant with my first child” – @MillicentSax #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

“I recall joyfully sharing the news and a male colleague…. He told me quite sternly that I should stay at home and raise my child. I was ignored after that” – @MillicentSax #TUCWomen

“I had my own band (all male). I recall some not being happy that I was pregnant because it meant I would have to stop playing for a short time and this meant the end of the band for them” – @MillicentSax #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

Did you know that 77% of the women surveyed by @EHRC in 2016 said they experienced discrimination because of their pregnancy? #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

“I was self-employed when I had my second child. I returned to work asap to keep my contract and to make a living” – @MillicentSax #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

“I felt torn between learning the music or performing and keeping an eye on the children to ensure they were behaving or not wandered off somewhere” – @MillicentSax #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

“I did not take on touring or international work as I felt uncomfortable leaving them for any length of time. Logistically I did not have anyone who could make a long term commitment to school runs and child care” – @MillicentSax #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

Did you know that 76% of parents and carers in the performing arts report having to turn down work because of childcare responsibilities? Find out more via @PIPAinfo #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

“One MU member, a concert pianist and conductor, lost a contract because of her pregnancy” – @MillicentSax.

Current legislation and benefits do not protect or provide for freelancers who are pregnant or parents.

#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

Freelancers struggle to access childcare because of the precarious nature of their work and it being prohibitively expensive before a child is three years old #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

That’s why we’re calling on @The_TUC to lobby Government to:
• Improve legislation for self-employed workers
• Extend Shared Parental Pay to self-employed workers
• Introduce a paternal/parental allowance for those who may not qualify for statutory pay

#TUCWomen

Freelancers also need Government to revise maternity leave as it applies to the self-employed, and subsidise childcare from six months old to make the system fair for all working people #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

Our motion on pregnancy and parenting in the music industry passed unanimously! Congrats to @MillicentSax on a fantastic speech, and our thanks to @NUJofficial for seconding & all those who supported #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong

A sunny start to day 2 of @The_TUC Women’s Conference! MU member @JacquelynHynes speaks in support of a composite motion on sexual harassment calling for legislation that protects ALL workers #TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

"Musicians Union research shows that 1 in 2 woman are sexually harassed. Musicians Union research shows that 1 in 2 woman are sexually harassed" - @JacquelynHynes

#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2019…

"85% of us who have experienced sexual harassment have not reported it because of the cultural barrier in the workplace and fear of losing work" - @JacquelynHynes

Find out more > musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2019…

#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

"89% of our members are freelancers and we are in an area of vulnerability. There is no safe space for us. 47% of us have been harassed by an audience member. Third party harassment is a serious issue" - @JacquelynHynes

#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

"What these statistics don’t reveal is the repetitive and relentless nature of harassment in a culture in which harassment of women is endemic, on the rise, and under-reported" - @JacquelynHynes on working freelance
#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

"We are also harassed by promoters, producers, on public transport travelling alone late at night, by colleagues and cab-drivers. By people we put our trust in, in order to work at all" -@JacquelynHynes
#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

"A young colleague was shouted at by an audience member recently 'Stop singing and get your tits out'. How many times does he get to shout that before it’s not OK?" - @JacquelynHynes
#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

"Misogyny thrives in a male-dominated world where women are not valued equally, and sometimes not valued at all. Sisters, I urge you to vote for the motion. I urge you to put this motion forward to the TUC" - @JacquelynHynes
#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

Did you know that 47% of musicians have been harassed by a third party at work?
#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo
musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2019…

A third of the musicians who experienced sexual harassment told us it was related to a protected characteristic?

Another 21% said they were not sure.

#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong #ProtectFreelancersToo

musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2019…

Government must change the law so that ALL working people have an equal level of protection from sexual harassment at work.

Sign the petition to #ProtectFreelancersToo → megaphone.org.uk/petitions/end-…

#TUCWomen #SistersStandingStrong