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Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Sex Workers ConsultationPaper.

NWF/21/13                                                               NWF/21/13                                                                    
Equality, Pay and Policy Department

TO: NATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM

FROM: MARY DOOLIN

DATE: 18 SEPTEMBER 2013


SUBJECT: Sex workers consultation paper


The wording below will form the basis on a Branch Briefing which will be going to Branches in the next few days.

Background

At Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) 2012 the NEC was instructed to produce a discussion paper for branches to consult on this issue because PCS currently has no policy on the sex trade. This consultation took place in February 2013.

Consultation responses

Due to the low level of responses the consultation period was extended to 5 April 2013.

Again the response rate was low and insufficient to inform a decision, therefore the National Women’s Forum (NWF) agreed to wait until after ADC 2013 for further consultation.


At ADC 2013 the NEC was instructed to develop a policy regarding the treatment by the employer of members with secondary or prior work in the sex industry.

The NEC has instructed that a further discussion paper incorporating ADC 2013 policy is circulated for consultation.

Consultation document

ADC motion A27 (2012) and ADC motion A27 (2013) were referred to the NWF to make recommendations to the NEC regarding the contents of the consultation paper.

As a result, this paper has 5 main discussion areas that form the basis of the consultation:

1) Is sex work a trade union issue?

2) Should sex workers be considered as workers and have employment rights?

3) Should trade unions organise sex workers?

4) Should PCS support the criminalisation of purchasers and/or providers of sexual services?

5) Should PCS develop a policy regarding the treatment by the employer of members with secondary or prior work in the sex industry?

To reaffirm, PCS is undertaking this consultation because some of our members are affected by these issues, and because the union has no current policy in this area. The union is not considering directly organising sex workers.

After consulting with members, Branches are asked to forward responses to the National Executive Committee (NEC) by no later than 18 October 2013, c/o equality@pcs.org.uk.

The NEC will review the outcome of the consultation at the meeting in December and consider how to take the issue forward.

Please circulate the attached document to members and ask for responses so these can be fed back to the NEC for consideration.


NWF/21/13                                                               NWF/21/13                                                                    
Equality, Pay and Policy Department

TO: NATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM

FROM: MARY DOOLIN

DATE: 18 SEPTEMBER 2013


SUBJECT: Sex workers consultation paper


The wording below will form the basis on a Branch Briefing which will be going to Branches in the next few days.

Background

At Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) 2012 the NEC was instructed to produce a discussion paper for branches to consult on this issue because PCS currently has no policy on the sex trade. This consultation took place in February 2013.

Consultation responses

Due to the low level of responses the consultation period was extended to 5 April 2013.

Again the response rate was low and insufficient to inform a decision, therefore the National Women’s Forum (NWF) agreed to wait until after ADC 2013 for further consultation.


At ADC 2013 the NEC was instructed to develop a policy regarding the treatment by the employer of members with secondary or prior work in the sex industry.

The NEC has instructed that a further discussion paper incorporating ADC 2013 policy is circulated for consultation.

Consultation document

ADC motion A27 (2012) and ADC motion A27 (2013) were referred to the NWF to make recommendations to the NEC regarding the contents of the consultation paper.

As a result, this paper has 5 main discussion areas that form the basis of the consultation:

1) Is sex work a trade union issue?

2) Should sex workers be considered as workers and have employment rights?

3) Should trade unions organise sex workers?

4) Should PCS support the criminalisation of purchasers and/or providers of sexual services?

5) Should PCS develop a policy regarding the treatment by the employer of members with secondary or prior work in the sex industry?

To reaffirm, PCS is undertaking this consultation because some of our members are affected by these issues, and because the union has no current policy in this area. The union is not considering directly organising sex workers.

After consulting with members, Branches are asked to forward responses to the National Executive Committee (NEC) by no later than 18 October 2013, c/o equality@pcs.org.uk.

The NEC will review the outcome of the consultation at the meeting in December and consider how to take the issue forward.

Please circulate the attached document to members and ask for responses so these can be fed back to the NEC for consideration.

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