Wear a White Ribbon

On White Ribbon Day (25 November) Unite stands together to call for an end to gender-based violence and campaign for safer workplaces and communities. 

The White Ribbon is a globally recognised symbol to end men’s violence against women and girls and was started as a movement 34 years ago in Canada. Since then the White Ribbon has become an important symbol in the fight to end gender-based violence.

Trade unions understand the importance of speaking up, supporting survivors, and pushing for real change that reject the harassment of women and girls.

Unite says domestic violence is a workplace issue and asks all activists to look at Unite’s model policy on supporting staff who are experiencing this and start negotiations on its introduction in their company.

Posters, model policy and guidance can be accessed on the “End violence against women and girls” page. 

Unite has a wide range of campaigns and resources that support reps and members join the global call to eliminate violence against women.

Current campaigns include Unite’s Get Me Home Safely campaign. This asks employers to extend their duty of care to staff’s commute to and from work. It encourages reps to conduct a workplace survey, identify any risks and ensure that employers take action to eliminate.

The campaign has a range of excellent resources on the Get Me Home Safely campaign page. 

Unite regions have been marking White Ribbon Day by highlighting the campaign and sending messages of solidarity. In Unite’s Bristol office the Unite South West Women’s Committee stood together to say a powerful “NO” to violence against women and girls in every community, every workplace, and across the world.

To find out more, and download resources, go to the “End violence against women and girls” page, and you can access all supporting materials on the main Unite women’s page.  

By Keith Hatch