The WEA Women@Work project sends this bulletin to those who are listed on our database to enable you to be informed about topical issues relating to women. Follow the blue links below to access articles relating to gender equality.  While we try to ensure that the information in this bulletin is accurate and appropriate, we cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy, content or information provided in the hypertext links.

***   Women@Worknetwork members who wish to promote their own business or services across the network can now have a page on the W@W website – for details log on to www.weawomenatwork.org.uk or contact us by email on womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk  ***

This is an extract from the EQUALITIES UPDATE: - recent equalities news produced by the HighlandCouncil and distributed by the Highlands & Islands Equality Forum.
24 Oct 06 Women feel less trusting in their relationships at work
Women are less likely than men to feel that clients and people they deal with in other companies are acting honestly with them, according to a new study..

25 Oct 06 Ex-church minister settles sex discrimination claim
A former Church of Scotland minister, who last year won a landmark House of Lords judgment allowing her to pursue a claim of sex discrimination against the Kirk, has settled her claim out of court.

26 Oct 06 Progress on gender pay gap stalled
Government efforts to narrow the pay gap between women and men are not working; bold new measures are urgently needed.  Figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that the mean hourly gender pay gap for full-time work has increased by 0.1% over the last 12 months from 17.1% to 17.2%.

01 Nov 06 Female directors 'earn £14k less'
Female directors of UK firms work longer than their male counterparts but earn on average 19% - or £14,028 - a year less, a study suggests.

09 Nov 06 Average difference now 12 per cent, with women earning more than men in 22-29 age group The pay gap between men and women is at its lowest ever level, and has vanished entirely for those in their twenties, according to National Statistics.

10 Nov 06 EOC response to extension of right to request flexible working to carers EOC press statement reacting to the DTI's extension of the right to request flexible working to carers.

14 Nov 06 Scottish Executive Action to Implement the Women and Work Commission's Recommendations Scottish Executive Action to Implement the Women and Work Commission's Recommendations.

14 Nov 06 Two chairs to provide double boost for Women's Enterprise
Small Business Minister Margaret Hodge gave a double boost for Women's Enterprise as she announced two Chairs to lead a new Task Force for Women's Enterprise.

15 Nov 06 EOC guidance for pubs and breweries
New guidelines to help pubs and breweries avoid discriminating against their staff have been launched today by the Equal Opportunities Commission.

20 Nov 06 Short-changed by a pensions system designed for men: Women could face shortfall Women are less able to save than men and are likely to face a shortfall in their retirement income, according to a new report released by Scottish Widows and the EOC.

20 Nov 06 EOC welcomes key milestone in path to biggest change to sex equality law in 30 years After the Gender Equality Duty Code of Practice was laid before Parliament on Wednesday, the Equal Opportunities Commission has made the Code available on its website.

 EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY GENERAL
02 Nov 06 Why equality and diversity is a key issue in today's workplace
In just over seven years, only a fifth of the workforce will be white, able-bodied, male and under 45. This is the fact that has driven ACAS, 's leading employment relations advisers, to develop its first free equality and diversity online learning tool.

04 Oct 2006 One fifth of all UK employees have experienced some form of bullying or harassment.  New report from the CIPD and MORI shows 20% of workers have been bullied over the last 2 years - with highest levels reported in the public sector.

09 Nov 06 Carers to benefit from right to request flexible working  
Carers across the are set to benefit from the right to request flexible working.

08 Nov 06 Diversity is a must for the Fire and Rescue Service
Efforts to make England’s Fire and Rescue Services more representative of the communities that they serve took a number of steps forward when Fire Minister Angela Smith announced both an equality and diversity award scheme and the launch of the Aspire leadership model.

13 Nov 06 Regulations promote access to and confidence in the voting system Moves to maximise participation in elections and to make the voting system more accessible, secure and efficient were finalised, the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) announced.

EVENTS
Dec 06 Introduction to Islam and Muslim Culture courses, various locations in

01 – 03 Dec 06 LBT health weekend, Pitlochry. A women-only weekend of talking about sex, health, the NHS, and queer women.

01 Dec 05 Close the Gap,  Free equal pay seminar for Trade Union reps, Glasgow. Emma Ritchie, Tel 0141 337 8126, email eritch@stuc.org.uk

02 Dec 06 LGBT Youth Scotland’s Annual Conference, Glasgow. The conference will showcase good practice across .

14 Dec 06 Bullying in the workplace, One-day Conference, supported by The Andrea Adams Trust, Edinburgh

07, 14 Feb, 14 Mar 06 Age Equality Advice Project Training Scotland, Advice UK and the Scottish Low Pay Unit, Tel: 0141-337-6819 E-mail:wilson@scotlpu.org.uk

09 Feb 07 Access for All? - An Update, DDA Part 3 Training for Advisers, Inverness.  A DRC free training seminar for advisers on rights of access to goods, facilities, services and premises. The training also covers 2005/2006 amendments to the DDA. Contact Viki Galt on 0131 527 4000

Ongoing, Women@Work Project, Network meetings throughout Highlands & Islands for details contact: womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk

Ongoing, Highlands & Islands Equality Forum, training and awareness raising throughout Highlands and Islands for further details contact HIEF.