The Women Unionists Network annual dinner will be held on the 24th of July 2008.
At our last Network meeting it was proposed that we invite two speakers, one from the union movement and one on reconciliation given the recent apology by the Rudd Government to the Stolen Generation.
We have also been able to arrange for the Centenary of Suffrage Petition to be at the dinner, which is part of the 100th anniversary of Victorian Women winning the vote.
The Petition will be at the dinner for women and men to sign.
100 years of Victorian Women’s Vote
In 2008, Victoria will celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote with a series of events and initiatives. In 2008, calico banners displaying the Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008 logo will travel to metropolitan, rural and regional areas in Victoria. All Victorians will be invited to sign these as a way of marking the Centenary.
The Monster Petition
Our aim is to collect 30,000 signatures in acknowledgment of the achievement of the original Monster Petition and as a commitment to pursuing equality for women in all aspects of Victorian life. These banners will be sewn together at the end of the year and displayed at the November Finale and Parliament House Open Day.
Mark this date in your diary, more details will be sent out closer to the dinner. If you have any ideas to help make the dinner a success come along to the next meeting.
The Women’s Network will meet again on 14th May to discuss the dinner and other related items. A notice about the meeting is in this newsletter.
Women Unionists Network 2008 Plan Update
Early this year the women unionists Network met to discuss activities and events for 2008.
The plan included production of a regular newsletter, the International Women’s Day Breakfast in March and we are in the process of organising the annual dinner for July
We do hope to go ahead with the weekend Leadership Training later this year which will be on the agenda for the next Network meeting.
The Cancer Council fundraiser the ‘Girls Night In’ is planned for October.
GEELONG TRADES HALL WOMEN UNIONISTS NETWORK
INVITES YOU TO
A Women Unionists Network MEETING
WHEN: WEDNESDAY 14th may TIME: 5.30PM
AGENDA: Dinner Training Weekend Updates and Coming Events general business
BRING A FRIEND ALONG ALL WELCOME
WHERE: GEELONG TRADES HALL
DRINKS AND NIBBLES PROVIDED
TO RSVP CONTACT CHRIS ON 0409432908 OR ANNE ON 52211712
INVITES YOU TO
A Women Unionists Network MEETING
WHEN: WEDNESDAY 14th may TIME: 5.30PM
AGENDA: Dinner Training Weekend Updates and Coming Events general business
BRING A FRIEND ALONG ALL WELCOME
WHERE: GEELONG TRADES HALL
DRINKS AND NIBBLES PROVIDED
TO RSVP CONTACT CHRIS ON 0409432908 OR ANNE ON 52211712
The Maritime Union of Australia Celebration
On Friday 9th May the MUA is holding a 10 year anniversary celebration of the Patrick Dispute. All welsome.
Union Air 94.7
The union movement has its own local radio program, Union Air, every Saturday at 12 noon on 94.7 The Pulse. A number of women unionists are involved in the production of the show and do a fantastic job every week.
The show provides up to date information on what is happening industrially around Geelong and the country generally. It’s certainly worth listening to
and is a great opportunity to keep issues affecting women workers on the agenda.
Flexible, fair workplaces high on women’s agenda – new report
Victorian women have rejected the Superwoman as a not so super role model, a report released today by the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission shows. Launched in time for International Women’s Day on Saturday, the report highlights that women feel stretched and stressed about juggling their multiple roles as workers and carers.
The report, Women, Rights and Equality: What do they want now? captures the views of 50 women from across Victoria. The women said they want pay equity and flexibility in the workplace to allow them to balance their multiple roles in life. Part-time and casual work was seen as a double-edged sword, providing flexibility but insecurity.
Most women said they felt it was impossible to have a successful career without sacrificing family life. Commission CEO, Dr Helen Szoke, said it was clear workplaces had not genuinely embraced the ‘family friendly’ conditions and practices that became the buzz words of the 90s.
“Workplace culture needs to change if we want to achieve real equal opportunity,” she said.
“Currently, workplaces operate very much on male terms - as if every worker has a ‘wife’ who takes care of the entire domestic and caring duties.
“The Superwomen of the 80s and 90s tried to fit in with the system. It is time the system fit in with women’s multiple roles,” she said.
Dr Szoke said recent amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act were a step in the right direction. The amendments mean that from September employers will not be able to unreasonably refuse requests for flexible workplace arrangements relating to family responsibilities. “This change, coupled with the labour shortage means that many women can afford to be more assertive about negotiating family friendly conditions,” she said.
Issues Affecting Working Women
There are lots of issues that affect us all as working women. Many of these issues have been around forever but we need to continue to fight hard for them. The Geelong Trades Hall was invited to attend the local 2020 summit held in Geelong. Our representative Rob Graauwmans, CFMEU organiser went along with three key points affecting working women.
- Equal Pay
- Affordable, Accessible Childcare
- 26 weeks paid maternity leave
Geelong Women Unionists Network Sponsorship
The Geelong Women Unionists Network aims to provide its activities and events free or at an affordable cost given that it involves women from diverse backgrounds and jobs. We have been very grateful to our sponsors who have enabled us to keep to this free/low cost aim. This year we are again seeking sponsorship to run our events. If you think your union might provide some form of sponsorship we can provide you with an information package to give to your union.
We thank the following Sponsors so far in 2008
- Geelong & Region Trades & Labour Council.
- Ian Trezise Member for Geelong
- Union Community Alliance (UCA)
