AHEAD of the House of Commons debate yesterday, the GMB Trade Union says an estimated 54,000 women lose their jobs every year due to pregnancy or maternity. The GMB is demanding that mothers cannot be sacked from the moment they become pregnant until 12 months after they return to work. The call came as Tory MP Maria Miller introduced a bill on maternity, pregnancy and redundancy in the House of Commons yesterday. And a total of 54,000 women are thought to lose their jobs every year due to pregnancy or maternity. Research shows women are better protected if they are in a trade union.