If you are a woman, if you have a daughter, sister or mother in the workplace, if you are an ally of
women, care about this: Women still earn less than men in every sector of the economy.
Women full time workers – 70 ½ cents for every dollar men earn
Women part time workers – 64 cents
Women of colour – 68 cents
Aboriginal women – 46 cents
The trend is worse for women who have a post-secondary education.
Not worrying about facts and reality, Stephen Harper declared women equal. Among other things, he cut
funding for early learning and child care programs, closed Status of Women offices and now has introduced
legislation that absolutely undermines the ability of women to fight for pay equity.
Canada Post
At Canada Post, Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers, mainly women, earn significantly less than urban
workers. That has to change.
We also cannot allow Canada Post to change our jobs through “Modern Post” to ones that most women will not
be able to do. Men’s injury rate, too, will rise with worsening jobs. Canada Post’s goal of shedding jobs is
not good for families and our communities.
The Union Difference
Unionized workers in almost every occupation earn more and have better benefits than non-unionized
workers. The benefit of a union is even greater for women and workers of colour.
March 8, International Women’s Day
As we prepare to celebrate International Women’s Day in a time of economic uncertainty for many workers,
we must join hands with our allies. Unions and decent wages should not be the scapegoat of a disastrously
managed economy.
The best chance for our daughters to achieve equality is through increased unionization. That’s good for
all of us.
