International Women’s Day

It’s Not New for Women this March 8

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.