A QUESTION OF AGE AND GENDER Sandra Bennett National Union of Teachers

1997 …

…2006

Why the disparity? Inflexibility? Inflexibility? Stereotypical assumptions? Stereotypical assumptions? Career breaks? Career breaks? Age? Age?

Unlawful Age Discrimination Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 Direct discrimination Direct discrimination Indirect discrimination Indirect discrimination Harassment Harassment Victimisation Victimisation

What is the NUT doing? Opposing compulsory retirements Opposing compulsory retirements Challenging discriminatory redundancies Challenging discriminatory redundancies Fighting ageist selection procedures - Rainbow v Milton Keynes Council 2008 Fighting ageist selection procedures - Rainbow v Milton Keynes Council 2008 Protecting teachers post retirement - Pike v Somerset County Council 2008 Protecting teachers post retirement - Pike v Somerset County Council 2008

Other cases Too old to be safe – Martin v SS Photay 2007 Too old to be safe – Martin v SS Photay 2007 Too young to be competent – Thomas v Eight Members Club 2007 Too young to be competent – Thomas v Eight Members Club 2007 Ageist assumptions – Green v Woodcote Golf Club 2007 Ageist assumptions – Green v Woodcote Golf Club 2007 A higher standard of conduct - Wangu v Sainsburys Supermarkets 2007 A higher standard of conduct - Wangu v Sainsburys Supermarkets 2007

Other cases Refusal to redeploy - Wooster v London Borough of Tower Hamlets 2007 Refusal to redeploy - Wooster v London Borough of Tower Hamlets 2007 Denied opportunity - Sayers v Joe Jennings Bookmakers 2007 Denied opportunity - Sayers v Joe Jennings Bookmakers 2007 Harassment - Kent v Krazy Kids 2007 Harassment - Kent v Krazy Kids 2007 Victimisation - Black v The Travel Bookshop 2006 Victimisation - Black v The Travel Bookshop 2006

What do we want from the government and the EHRC? Increased powers to tribunals to make recommendations Increased powers to tribunals to make recommendations A robust single equality duty to include age A robust single equality duty to include age Monitoring age and sex discrimination in the public sector Monitoring age and sex discrimination in the public sector Investigation into multiple discrimination including discrimination against older women Investigation into multiple discrimination including discrimination against older women