Women

International Women's Day 2008

Don’t be too polite girls, it’s celebration time!

What does International Women's Day mean for women across Australia? It is always a time to refocus our thoughts on where we are and where we need to go. And by "we" is meant everyone, male and female, because inequality harms everyone in one way or another.

The pay equity report recently released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is a rude awakening to those out there that thought women today earn equal pay for work of equal value. Read more about the 16% wage gap here: http://www.asu.asn.au/media/women/20080304_women.html

And there are other issues that need to be addressed. The ASU in particular will this year be focussing on paid parental leave and pay equity. Again, these measures do not just benefit women, they benefit everyone.

On International Women's Day, we look towards the future with what we need to do next and we celebrate past achievements. There will be a range of events around the country that you can participate in, woman, man and child (your pets, too, where appropriate!).

For information about events occurring around Australia, visit the international IWD website events page here http://www.internationalwomensday.com/events.asp and select "Australia" in the pull down menu. There are over 100 events registered across the country.

The international IWD website also has an interesting time line showing the history of IWD from 1908: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp

Getting active in your workplace

Have you thought about having an IWD event in your workplace? If you want more information on IWD in your area contact you ASU women's representative in your Branch. All Branch contact details can be found on our Contacts page.

News items from our Branches advising of state based events:

• NSW US Branch (USU): http://www.usu.org.au/usu/artman/publish/article_468.shtml
• Qld Services: http://www.asuqld.asn.au/pdfs08/20080225iwdactivities.pdf
• Qld Services: http://www.asuqld.asn.au/pdfs08/20080218womensday.pdf
• C&S Qld C&A: http://www.qld.asu.net.au/1200.html

International ITUC campaign: Decent work, decent life for women

In support of this campaign, ITUC has produced a guide and poster which can both be downloaded below.

From the guide introduction and summary of the campaign:

8 March 2008 marks the Centenary of International Women's Day (IWD), which has its origins in the protests, strikes and marches of women trade unionists. Their courage and determination to stand up for women workers' rights calls for a very special celebration. That is why the ITUC and the Global Union Federations (GUFs) are launching a two-year Global Campaign for Decent Work, Decent Life for Women on this historic date.

This guide explains what the campaign is, why it is important, and what you can do to take part. It includes background information on decent work for women, and tips and resources to get started with your Campaign.

...

The key objectives of the Global Campaign for Decent Work, Decent Life for Women are:

• To advocate decent work for women and gender equality in labour policies and agreements;
• To seek gender equality in trade union structures, policies and activities and a significant increase in the number of women trade union members and women in elected positions.

The ITUC and the Global Union Federations (GUFs) will focus their activities on sectors/ areas of work where women workers are most vulnerable such as Export Processing Zones, domestic work, part-time workers, women migrant workers and the informal economy.

The ASU is affiliated to the ITF which is one of the global unions that is working with ITUC on this campaign.

International PSI campaign: Water, Women, Workers - sources of life

"Water, Women, Workers: sources of life" is the theme of this year's Public Services International (PSI) campaign, starting on International Women's Day on 8 March and ending on World Water Day on 22 March. The campaign includes a focus on climate change and sustainable development. It will highlight the importance - especially for women - of quality public services in health, water and education.

The campaign's key messages are on:

• the negative impact of water privatisation, which disproportionately affects women;
• the influence of climate change on clean water supplies and sustainable development;
• universal access to safe water as a human right;
• and a call for governments to publicly own and manage water supplies.

In alliance with the ITUC and other global union federations who are making "decent work, decent life for women" this year's theme for International Women's Day, PSI stresses the importance of quality public health, water and education services in ensuring sustainable development, decent work and quality of life for all, especially women.

For information about this campaign and to download resources, please visit: http://www.psiwater.org/index.htm

The ASU is affiliated to the PSI.

Recent media items on women

Gender equality - let's not let it become a lost Australian dream: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Media Release, March 5, 2008

Equal pay still a battle: Gillard: The Australian, March 3, 2008

Women earn 16 per cent less than men: news.com.au and AAP, March 3, 2008

100 years of International Women's Day: Green Left Online, February 29, 2008

Body image issues get PM's attention: The Age, March 3, 2008

Coming clean on the power of breasts: The Age, March 1, 2008

Powerful women still scare people senseless: The Herald Sun, February 25, 2008

Girl geeks meet for International Women's Day: iTnews.com.au, March 4, 2008

What young women want: The Australian, March 5, 2008

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