Mums go on the march to call for better rights

WOMEN joined together in a “March of the Mummies” on Halloween.

The women are all part of a campaign to improve rights for working mothers.

Protests were held across the UK via campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed which wants the Government to take action to reduce discrimination against working women who have children.

The group is calling for childcare to be subsidised from when a child is six months old, for the self-employed to be given statutory shared parental leave, and for fathers to have improved paternity leave.

In Cardiff, members of the Women’s Equality Party South Wales branch, Chwarae Teg, and Career Women Wales CIC all joined forces in Queen Street. They say 71% of women face maternity discrimination.

Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, said: “March of the Mummies is our first demonstration and we are encouraging those attending to dress up as mummies – the walking dead kind – to highlight the archaic behaviour of some employers today. Since founding Pregnant Then Screwed, after I experienced maternity discrimination in 2013, I have heard from thousands of women who have suffered similar experiences. Despite many advances in gender equality maternity discrimination is rife and discussion remains taboo.

“Our protest is an opportunity for us to collectively come together, destigmatise the issue, and have our voices heard.”

Sarah Rees, Pregnant then Screwed lead for Wales, said: “Last year the Government in Westminster commissioned a report into pregnancy discrimination and its findings were alarming. However, since its publication efforts have stalled. We are therefore standing with our sisters in London and Northern Ireland to demand change and transform the landscape for women and families in Wales for the better.”

To find out more visit www.pregnantthenscrewed.com.