March 8, 2017 - International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8th, is a campaign to help create a more gender inclusive world

by bringing awareness to gender based issues and providing a forum to discuss how to create change for equality.

This year the theme of IWD is #BeBoldForChange. Organizations and individuals around the world who are supporting this campaign are committed to helping women and girls achieve their ambitions, challenge bias, call for gender-balanced leadership, and closing the gender pay gap. Recently, The Globe and Mail published an article reporting that here in Canada women are still being consistently paid less than men for equal work. Clearly there continues to be a need for activism on behalf of women’s rights. There will be a series of events and protests scheduled in communities across the globe that you and your family can participate in to show solidarity with all women and girls.

“It is so important that we continue to advocate for equal rights in the workplace and also to protect our sisters from gender based discrimination, violence, and harassment in the workplace,” said USW 1944 Vice-President, and member of the USW 1944 Women of Steel Committee, Betty Carrasco. “It’s unacceptable that in 2017 we continue to see pay inequity. We also need to push for access to family planning, and support for victims of spousal abuse in the workplace.”

USW 1944 Women of Steel Committee are also encouraging members to participate in an important consultation by the Federal Government of Canada to take action against harassment and sexual violence in workplaces. Members need only to complete a brief survey in order to participate.

Take action today for a more gender inclusive world.


In solidarity,

The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers National Local 1944