Union demands “period dignity” on construction sites

Grant Prior 6 years ago
Share

Construction union Unite has launched a campaign to ensure that female workers have period dignity on site.

The call comes after a survey of its women construction members found that a lack of facilities when women were having their periods was a major issue.

One said: “The toilets where I’m working are unisex portaloos. These are usually disgusting.

“One portaloo. No separate changing facilities. No sanitary product bins or dispensers.

“Asked for sanitary bins, got ignored. If a female says anything they don’t like, they put it down to PMT.”

Unite is now asking contractors to sign-up to a four-point plan promising to:

  • Ensure each site or depot has a designated female toilet, which is always accessible, regularly cleaned and lockable
  • Handwashing facilities with running water and soap are provided in all welfare facilities
  • Sanitary bins are provided and they are cleaned and emptied regularly
  • Sanitary products are provided in a dispenser in a discreet location, free to workers.

The first site to sign up is the Glasgow University Campus development which is being built by Multiplex.

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “Unite is asking construction employers to sign up to four basic demands which will ensure that women workers can experience period dignity.

“With ever growing skills shortages in our industry, it is absolutely essential that construction becomes more attractive to women workers.

“A small step in achieving this is to ensure that women construction workers can have period dignity at work.

“Unite welcomes Multiplex’s role as a trailblazer in signing up to the campaign and will continue to highlight other sites and companies which also sign up in the future.”

Latest news

New BAM leisure centre pool springs a leak

Contractor investigating "technical issues" delaying new £36m green leisure centre
53 minutes ago

Former Keltbray managers jailed after corruption trial

Jail sentences following bribery probe on jobs including Battersea Power Station
16 hours ago

Green light for £150m West End office revamp

Shaftesbury Avenue office retrofit retains 75% of original building
5 hours ago

Lidl pumps £500m into store and logistics expansion

Discounter plans 40 new stores this year as expansion ramps up
5 hours ago

JJ Rhatigan UK profit jumps as turnover tops £150m

Irish contractor's expansion in England gathers pace
6 hours ago

Driverless digger to be used on Taylor Woodrow site

Autonomous excavator to work at Manchester Airport after successful trial
6 hours ago

MCS Build lands Basingstoke warehouse scheme

Construction starts this month after £26m funding deal
5 hours ago

Leeds United unveil stadium revamp design

Club has still to set a timeframe for staged Elland Road upgrade
14 hours ago

Bowmer & Kirkland boosts margins as profits surge to £69m

Revenue nudges up towards £1.3bn in year of expansion
1 day ago

Offshore construction starts on £4bn windfarm

Foundations for first of 95 turbines installed: Watch video
1 day ago

AECOM buys civils consultant Allen Gordon

Global giant acquires Scottish water and energy specialist
1 day ago

Plans in for £1bn Northern Gateway site in Manchester

Plan for 500-acre manufacturing and logistic park advance
1 day ago

RED wins £31m London Shoreditch student digs job

Two extra floors will be added to Willen House scheme
1 day ago

Deconstruct handed £12m Grenfell demolition

Firm maintaining building awarded job without bid race to speed process
1 day ago

Sizewell site workers get made to measure PPE

Bespoke fitting service on offer at new Bryson branch
1 day ago

Comment: Gateway is acting like a barricade

Contractors left banging their heads on an (unbuilt) brick wall
4 days ago

Final phase of £1.5bn Elephant and Castle revamp hits planning

Get Living submits revised plan for 500 homes and 450-bed student block
5 days ago

Ealing backs final phase of £1.3bn estate rebuild

Friary Park estate rebuild in Acton reaches end stage
4 days ago

Green light for scaled-down Nottingham student tower

Glasshouse Street scheme will deliver 247 student rooms
4 days ago

Aston Villa to revamp North Stand

Club to reuse existing structure rather than complete rebuild
5 days ago

Mace signs ex-ISG director to lead Euro health and tech push

Gary Sweeney to head up healthcare and life sciences consultancy arm
4 days ago

Sir Robert McAlpine claws way back into profit

Firm says return to profit and strong cash balance validates new strategy
5 days ago

Severfield to cut staff by 6% amid pricing pressure

Steelwork contractor warns of extended tighter pricing due to project delays
5 days ago

JRL completes sale of 50% stake to Malaysian giant IJM

Deal boosts balance sheet and kicks starts growth plan
5 days ago

Green light for £100m Liverpool Baltic station build

Enabling highway works to start in the autumn
6 days ago

First live tests for flying construction robots

Drones can lay construction materials at height on site
5 days ago

Three firms land £170m Gentoo Sunderland housing deal

PHS Solutions, Esh and RE:GEN to deliver 10-year home upgrade plan
6 days ago

Gateway gridlock hits build-to-rent delivery as starts nosedive

Build to rent starts plunge 18% in the capital
6 days ago

Call to shift Gateway 2 checks to end building bottleneck

"The current system isn't working but we all want to see safe buildings"
6 days ago

GBN launches £600m bid race for SMR engineer roles

Owner engineers to provide technical and assurance services
6 days ago

Contractor services