The CWU is campaigning to make period products free and universally accessible.
Period poverty is on the rise in the UK with charities reporting individuals using newspaper or socks to deal with a period, because they can’t afford to pay for period products, and an estimated 137,000 young women and girls missing school every year because they do not have the products they need.
The CWU is calling for:
-
Free universal access to period products
-
VAT to be abolished on period products for those who chose to buy sanitary wear
What can you do?
The Branch are looking for more members to set up sanitary product donation and distribution points around the region.
We'll provide you with zip lock bags and stickers and you decide which local charities you want to support.
Several members have been running the scheme in the Norwich area, donating to local food banks and drop in centres.
To find out more about starting a new scheme in your workplace, contact sara.miah@cwunea.org
If you don't want to set up a scheme, there's still plenty you can do to support the campaign
-
Write to your MP on the issue or lobby them on social media tagging in @CWUnews and the hashtag #makeperiodproductsfree. Template letters and tweets are available from the equality department
-
Ask your local council to provide free period products in public buildings as councils around the UK are starting to do. A template letter is available from the equality department equalopportunities@cwu.org
-
Ask your Constituency Labour Party to pass a motion supporting free universal access to period products. A template motion is available from the equality department.