To gain equality and achieve their goals, women must work with and through their unions. History demonstrates that by organizing into unions, working people have achieved better wages, working conditions, benefits, job security, human rights and equity protection.
The OPSEU Constitution guarantees the foundation – A Provincial Women's Committee (PWC). Delegates in each region elect a representative to serve on this committee.
Each union local is also encouraged to set up an active women's committee (LWC). Its job is to highlight issues of particular concern to female OPSEU members.
What is the mandate of the Provincial Women's Committee?
The PWC is an advocate for women within the union, and especially at the local level. We often act as advisors, mediators and investigators under OPSEU’s Harassment and Discrimination Prevention policy. The PWC also initiates campaigns in the workplace and community for women's rights.
The PWC is also available to work with the bargaining teams on contract language regarding equity issues. Equality for women and other equity-seeking groups is a central thrust of all our work, both in the workplace and our communities..
What can a local women's committee do?
- Inform members about OPSEU's policy against Harassment and Discrimination.
- Seek out sisters who will run as stewards and officers
- Identify and dissolve the barriers that block sisters from participating. This means everyone, including sisters of colour, First Nations, Metis and Inuit sisters, lesbian sisters, disabled sisters and those with families.
- Work with the PWC rep in the region.
- Organize educationals at lunch or after work on issues like "bargaining for a family-friendly workplace" or health and safety.
- Support women in other workplaces and other unions.
- Develop strategies to encourage your community to support public services.
Resources
The OPSEU Provincial Women’s Committee is partnering with the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care on a parent survey about child care options:
The OPSEU Provincial Women’s Committee is partnering with the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care on a parent survey about child care options:
- Licensed child care in Ontario costs upwards of $40-$60 per day, per child.
- There are only licensed spaces for 1 in 5 of Ontario’s children.
- In many areas, there are long waiting lists for childcare subsidy.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We know that childcare is good for children, families, and our economy. In Quebec, child care fees are just $7/day and in Manitoba they are no more than $20/day.
The future of childcare will depend on a movement of parents sharing their experiences.
Get involved. Take the survey on-line:
- https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VLCHCQG (Parent Survey in English);
- https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V8BNW3W (Sondage auprès des parents)
and follow the action on Twitter @ChildCareON.
The results of the survey will put pressure on decision-makers for real change and affordable childcare.
Spread the word, every story counts!
Pay Equity
Pay equity is equal pay for work of equal value. The PWC actively supports the view that it is a fundamental human right of women workers to be paid wages that are free of the systemic gender-based discrimination that values and pays women's work less than men's work of comparable value.
NEW Please print the PWC Pay Equity poster and post on your union board.
To read more about this issue, go to:
- Equal Pay Coalition
- Closing The Gender Pay Gap In Ontario: Securing Justice For Women’s Work
Women and Unions
While women’s experience in the economy is improving, there is still a long way to go. To obtain these changes for women requires significant changes in the workforce. The PWC holds the view that women’s collective action, through the labour movement, is key to advancing women’s rights overall. To read more about the issue, go to:
- The Role of Unions In Furthering Women’s Equality
- Union Workload: A Barrier To Women Surviving Labour-Movement Leadership
- Connecting Women with Unions: What Are the Issues?