Tag Archives: journée internationale des femmes

International Women’s Day 2023

Today is International Women’s Day, and the CIU National Women’s Committee wishes to acknowledge the continued work of all activists and members within our union who identify as women, and without whom many of our victories and achievements would never have become reality. A true force for mobilization in the face of adversity, women of all horizons are consistently at the forefront of the union movement to defend our rights and fight for greater equality.

Just today in British Columbia, women activists are once again leading the push against the employer’s all-too-common overreach attempts, rallying against CBSA’s arbitrary decision to cancel long-standing working agreements affecting workers with family related obligations.

On behalf of the entire Customs and Immigration Union, to all the women who are fighting to take down barriers and build a fairer, more just world, we extend our most heartfelt solidarity.

– The CIU National Women’s Committee

International Women’s Day 2022

A woman’s place is in her union

March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the historical, cultural and political achievements of women.

In honour of this, the CIU National Women’s Committee would like to celebrate all CIU members who identify as women and who have contributed to the union since its inception — members such as CIU Life Members Sue Neumann, Sheila Dunnachie and Diane Lacombe. Battling gender bias in a male dominated workplace and union, these women forged the way, signalling that there was a place for women in our union. As new women activists, seeing women in positions of leadership at CIU was key in inspiring us to become more involved in our union.

Break the bias in the workplace

We would also like to highlight the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, #breakthebias.

Studies have found that women face a greater number of microaggressions in the workplace than men, and this is amplified for women of colour, indigenous women, women with disabilities and women who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. Women have their competence challenged, are interrupted or spoken over, and have their judgement questioned more often than men. Women also receive more negative feedback on how they present themselves or act, like being told they are argumentative or confrontational. Intersectional women also face the ‘only’ challenge — being the only woman in a meeting and being expected to speak for all people with whom they share an identity.

Today, our committee asks our Brothers, Sisters and friends to look closely at our biases towards women so that we can begin to confront them. One way bias is displayed is in the adjectives often used to describe women at work. Try challenging these adjectives to replace them with more positive ones.

Examples:

Knowledgeable vs. Know-it-all or argumentative
Passionate vs. Emotional, confrontational
Leadership vs. Bossy
Persistent vs. Nag
Driven vs. Ambitious
Detailed oriented vs. High maintenance

When we use negative adjectives to describe women, it undermines their talents and contributions. Women and men alike use this type of language. Confronting our biases together is one way we can help build a more positive space for women in the union, where their contributions are appreciated for their content. In this way, we can make sure that there is truly a place for women in their union.

In solidarity,

The CIU National Women’s Committee

International Women’s Day: Fighting for an equitable future

This International Women’s Day, PSAC recognizes the strength and resiliency of women each and every day. The global pandemic has disproportionately impacted women. This is a gendered crisis and we must continue to organize and take action towards a just recovery. A just recovery that addresses the intersectional gendered implications of the pandemic.

In the early months of the pandemic, women’s participation in the Canadian paid labour force fell to its lowest level in three decades. This ground will not be easily recovered because women are over-represented in the industries hit hardest by the pandemic. This includes the service sector; where jobs are often lower-waged, non-unionized and precarious. Women make up the majority of our frontline workers and this essential work has placed them at the forefront during the pandemic, putting them at greater risk of contracting the virus.

The closure of schools and daycares created additional hurdles for many women because they were more often forced to limit their paid working hours or give up work altogether to care for their children. This was further exacerbated for women from marginalized communities who face additional systemic barriers.

A just recovery plan must have a feminist approach that is intersectional. This means a Canada-wide affordable and accessible child care system. We have been fighting for child care for decades and we are at a monumental time to bring about this change. Women’s equality and economic independence depends on child-care. Last year, the government promised to create a national early learning and child care system. This is not enough. The government must lay out and fund a plan for universally accessible and high quality child care.

The women of our union have fought long and hard for equality and justice; and we haven’t let the pandemic hold us back. Through our actions and solidarity, we will break down barriers and fight for a just recovery for all. This International Women’s Day, and every day, we must keep fighting for an equitable future. Together, we have the power to create lasting change.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PSAC celebrates women’s power to create change

International Women’s Day is a time to look back on the victories and struggles that have led to greater gender equality in Canada and around the world. It is also a day to remember that there is still much more work to be done to achieve equality for all women.

Throughout our history, PSAC has fought and achieved significant improvements for women at the bargaining table, in the courts and through mobilization and action. PSAC remains committed to breaking through the barriers faced by all women, including racialized women, Indigenous women, lesbians, bisexual women, trans women, non-binary people and women with disabilities.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with some of PSAC’s women leaders to talk about why it’s so important for women to join their union.

Despite the incredible victories women have achieved through their union, we need your support to overcome the challenges that still stand in the way of gender equality.

On this International Women’s Day, let’s call on the federal, provincial and territorial governments to:

implement all recommendations from the Calls for Justice;
implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
commit to a plan for affordable, high-quality childcare;
integrate an intersectional approach to the implementation of the National Action Plan to end gender-based violence;
ensure pay equity legislation is enacted effectively;
provide workers with 10 paid days of domestic violence leave;
ratify International Labour Organization Convention C-190; and
increase funding and access to women’s shelters and sexual assault support centres.

PSAC women have won groundbreaking advances in pay equity, the first-ever collective agreement clause providing sexual harassment protection, paid maternity and parental leave, same sex benefits, domestic violence leave and much more.

We encourage all women to get involved in their union – because together, we have the power to create lasting change!

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.