March 8, 2022
| “Progress of women is progress for all of us. Giving priority to women is not an option. It is a necessity. Giving more opportunities to women, besides being a matter of rights, is also a manifestation of good economic sense.” Michelle Bachelet |
This International Women’s Day we thank, honour and celebrate the generations before us who bravely fought, toiled and struggled for the equality that we enjoy today.
With Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow being this year’s theme, I am so proud of how progressive our Local has been and continues to be with nearly half of our executive board members now being women.
And while Local 1944 was one of the first unions to have taken up and won the fight for pay equality many decades ago, the fight sadly continues within our country today.
Women in Canada are still fighting for basic protections, struggling to access equality, and maybe most importantly, for respect. Benefits Canada reports that Canadian women earned 23% less than men in 2020: report.
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As the generation of today, we must continue to stand up against inequality in any form.
We must harness that same resilience and unshakable courage of the generations before us. And while many global ills are unfortunately outside of our immediate control, we can take action against the wrongs and inequalities that we may encounter – especially in the workplace.
Why? Because, we all pay a price for inequality and oppression. As Dr. Valerie Hudson argues in her book The First Political Order, societies that treat women badly are poorer and less stable.
So, it’s on us, the generation of today, to lay down an even stronger foundation towards a more tolerant and equitable future. And we have it within us.
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To me, International Women’s Day is a reminder of the power of unity.
I am so proud to stand with you, my brothers and sisters, having seen the sheer bravery, grit and resilience that you displayed during the pandemic. COVID has proved that when confronted by adversity, we can collectively overcome great odds and channel the inner tenacity needed to continue and win this fight. But more importantly, it has shown how much we need each other and that we are indeed family.
We cannot win a war against inequity, by doing nothing. Positive change only happens because of solidarity and action. And when we come together and walk in lockstep, we win the day. After all, we are as Strong as Steel!
In Solidarity,
Donna Hokiro
President
USW Local 1944
