UCU: Support for single parents

Motion

Motion text: Congress notes:
1. The Single Parent Rights campaign are calling on the government to make single parenthood a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
2. The Single Parent Rights campaign has identified that discrimination against single parents has increased, and Gingerbread has identified how this has worsened since the pandemic.
3. Other unions, including UNISON, have agreed to support the work of Single Parent Rights.
Congress believes:
a. UCU should call on the government to support single parents through legislative/policy change, and unequivocally to improve conditions for our members.
b. That single parenthood can have multiple disadvantages that intersect with the discrimination associated with each of the protected characteristics, especially sex.
Congress resolves:
i. To campaign to support single parents.
ii. To endorse and support the Single Parent Rights’ campaign group call on the government to add single parents as the tenth protected characteristic to the UK Equality Act.