Quality | 2009.09.15
TUC backs high heels risk assessments
Delegates back call for risk assessments on women wearing high heels at work, despite claims such a move would result in union members being portrayed as killjoys
A call for employers to carry out risk assessments on women wearing high heels at work was today attacked for portraying unions as "killjoys".
The University and College Union took exception to a motion tabled at the TUC conference in Liverpool, which demanded women wear "sensible" shoes to work because of the risk of feet problems, knee and back pain caused by high heels.
Lorraine Jones, of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, said many women, such a shopworkers, airline cabin crew and other employees, had to wear high heels as part of a dress code, but it did not apply to men.
Jones, a practising podiatrist, said seven times as much pressure was put on the ball of a foot with every step taken by someone wearing high heels.
"This is not a trivial problem. Two million working days are lost every year through lower limb and foot-related problems. We are not trying to ban high heels – they are good for glamming up but they are not good for the workplace. Women should have a choice of wearing healthier, more comfortable shoes."
But Loraine Monk, a UCU delegate from Nescot College in Epsom, Surrey, opposed the motion, telling delegates that women should not be lectured to about what to wear.
"This well-meant motion will see the union movement portrayed in the media as the killjoy fashion police," she said.
"Why is it only aimed at women? Hasn\'t anyone heard of [Italian prime minister Silvio] Berlusconi? Who decides what is appropriate when it comes to dress codes?"
Monks said that instead of focusing on shoes, unions should include all types of inappropriate dress in the workplace.
"Let\'s debate the women\'s charter with the same enthusiasm as this debate. Let\'s demand mandatory pay audits to redress pay inequality. Let\'s stop telling women what to do," she said.
Supporting the motion, Mary Turner, from the GMB, seized on comments made by Tory MP Nadine Dorries on her blog , which scorned unions\' health and safety concerns.
"I\'m 5ft 3in and need every inch of my Louboutin heels to look my male colleagues in the eye. If high heels were banned in Westminster, no one would be able to find me.
Dorries added in her blog, posted last month: "The TUC need to get real, stop using overtly sexist tactics by discussing women\'s stilettos in order to divert attention away from Labour chaos and debate something meaningful: like where has all the money gone?"
Turner fired back today: "If you need to wear high heels to stand up to men than I feel very sorry for you."
Bar a handful of delegates, the motion received overwhelming support.
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/sep/15/tuc-high-heels
