Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Re: International Women’s Day
This past year has seen great achievements and victories for Sisters in our union and on March 8, 2011, we stand together with millions around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day and inspire women.
Together, our efforts helped to stop Bill C-391 and kept the Long Gun Registry intact; Sisters at Canada Post were awarded the opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in their on-going pay equity battle; and hundreds of sisters gathered together to put their passion into action at both the prairies and national women’s conferences in 2010.
But despite our efforts, we are still up against a government that seems determined to erode the rights we have fought to achieve. The losses our country, and our members, have endured with this Government are troubling: The elimination of funding for women's groups who do advocacy work, the closing of many Status of Women Offices, the elimination of Pay Equity under the under the Public Service Equitable Compensation Act, and the list goes on.
International Women's Day represents nearly a century of struggle for the equality of women world-wide. This year, on March 8, Sisters in the PSAC are not only celebrating the gains we have achieved, we are also actively participating in a campaign to ensure our rights for the future, including child care that is publicly (and not for profit) delivered, universal and affordable.
Talk with women in your workplaces and share your experiences and frustrations. Distribute the PSAC “Fighting back, moving forward” information in your workplace and stand up against Harper’s attacks on women’s equality.
In Solidarity,
Robyn Benson
Regional Executive Vice-President
Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairies