News

March 7th, 2021-For Immediate Release

Kincardine Pride-International Women’s Day

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women since 1911. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Kincardine Pride President, Fort Papalia, sees the intersection of IWD and Pride. “Both IWD and Pride are born out of repression, discrimination and most disturbingly, violence and persecution, usually at the hands of men and male-dominated organizations. Violence and persecution against people who sought nothing more than the equality and equity that should be a birthright”. 

Thankfully, significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality. IWD, like Pride, celebrates all we have accomplished and all that is yet to come. Taking a note from CUPE Ontario President, Fred Hahn, Kincardine Pride Parade Director, Dave Trumble sees a future “where no one will ever know a time when IWD and Pride are not celebrated. There is no taking a step back”.

International Women's Day (IWD), marked annually on March 8th, is one of the most important days of the year to:

• celebrate women's achievements
• raise awareness about women's equality
• lobby for accelerated gender parity
• fundraise for female-focused charities

Having to say that women are an equity seeking group as we are one fifth of the way through the twenty first century is a tragedy. Unfortunately, the pervasive systemic discrimination that still exists finds women, often caregivers to both parents and children, too often trapped in economically, socially and physically vulnerable situations, both at home and in the workplace. COVID-19 has shone a harsh light on this. As we approach IWD 2021 we must see March the 8^th as not only a day of celebration, but of rededication to remove this systemic discrimination in every corner of our existence.  

          Charter support for advancing and accelerating gender parity and LGBTQ parity is in the DNA of organized labour. Allies of all those seeking social justice, the labour movement is a natural ally of Pride and IWD. For decades labour has played a significant role, but perhaps none more so than the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Women’s Committee. The committee was formed in 1976. Members of the committee organized and mobilized demonstrations, strike support, civil disobedience, marches, and lobbies to name but a few activities. Amongst many issues we find, maternity leave, ending racist immigration policies, equal pay for work of equal value, family law reform, childcare, full access to reproductive rights and midwifery, an end to violence against women, LGBTQ rights, and union recognition.

In 2021 the Women’s Movement, Pride and Labour are long standing allies in the fight against systemic repression of targeted groups. As we look beyond 2021 and COVID-19 the world will see a successful recovery only if the recovery works for everyone. Allies in the pursuit of social justice will lead the recovery and this year let us celebrate IWD and dedicate ourselves to ally with a recovery and a future of equality, equity and social justice. Kincardine Pride is pleased and proud to wish everyone a happy, safe and optimistic International Women’s Day.

Media inquiries to Kincardine Pride are welcome.

Subject: I need you to write to your MP today

Preview: Canada’s unions secured an extension for income supports for workers past this month but there’s more work to do.

Friend

With the help of the CLC who held Ottawa’s feet to the fire, the federal government has extended income support past March. They announced a 12-week extension for both the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), as well as an additional 24 weeks of eligibility for Employment Insurance (EI).

Let’s take a moment to recognize that the actions we take − writing letters, signing petitions, chirping on social media  − all make a difference in the fight to move Canada forward.

While the extension is a good first step, people in Grey Bruce still don’t have a job they can go back to. And those who don’t qualify for EI still need income support in the months ahead and maybe years ahead.

Tell the federal government to stop kicking the can down the road; reform EI now.

The road to recovery is long but families in Grey Bruce need financial support and stability today. They need to keep the lights on and put food on the table.

Let’s get the job done,

Subject: Women are organizing.
Here’s the plan...

Friends,

Women in Canada, including right here in Grey Bruce, are the ones who always pick up the slack – to provide care, to carry the mental load, to know what’s needed and to get it done.

Here are some things we knew were true before the pandemic started:

• Women make 32 percent less than men;
• Racialized women make 40 percent less than white men born in Canada;
• For Indigenous women, the gap is 45 percent;
• For immigrant women, it's 55 percent; and
• For women with a disability, it’s 56 percent.

But unfair wages are just one of the problems.

Most of the workers in Grey Bruce taking care of the elderly, children, and people with disabilities are women. A higher proportion of women also lost their jobs in the pandemic because they work in sectors and industries hardest hit by isolation measures.

More women have been diagnosed with COVID-19 than men and, tragically, more women have died as well. This pandemic is devastating a generation of working women and no one is lifting a finger to stop it.

You can choose to challenge a system that is doing nothing to help women by pledging your support to the women in your life. {Button link goes here} {https://canadianplan.ca/join-women-in-this-recovery}

IWDSharegraphics.pdf (clcctc.ca)

March 1^st,2021-For Immediate Release

Grey Bruce Labour Council-International Women’s Day

The global pandemic was about to land squarely on us as we approached International Women’s Day (IWD) in 2020. Thankfully, many of the IWD events actually took place before we entered the vast uncertainty that still besets us in March of 2021. The Grey Bruce Labour Council has provided support and aided in sponsorship of IWD events in the Grey Bruce region for many years. “First and foremost, says Labour Council President Kevin Smith, the support of the Grey Bruce Labour Council is to help ensure that the very necessary services of the shelters for women and children in our region may continue to offer their care in times of great personal crisis for many.”

Anna Morrison, Labour Council Sergeant at Arms, knows very well that organized labour has played a significant part in many advances made towards equity and equality, and “IWD is a day of celebration, but like other seminal days of the year, IWD is a time to rededicate ourselves to ensuring that violence against women and children is forever irradicated.”  Labour Council Secretary, Amy Stephen adds, “for decades labour has played a significant role, but perhaps none more so than the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Women’s Committee. The committee was formed in 1976. Members of the committee organized and mobilized demonstrations, strike support, civil disobedience, marches, and lobbies to name but a few activities. Amongst many issues we find, maternity leave, ending racist immigration policies, equal pay for work of equal value, family law reform, childcare, full access to abortion and midwifery, an end to violence against women, LGBTQ rights, and union recognition.”

The Grey Bruce Labour Council is proud to be part of the Women’s Centre of Grey Bruce’s event on International Women’s Day March 8^th.  OPSEU sister and Labour Council delegate, Karen Gventer, will be hosting the “Women in the Workforce – Gender Wage Gap” breakout room on behalf of Grey Bruce Labour Council.  Labour Council VP for Bruce, Dave Trumble, notes “in further support of IWD the Labour Council is pleased to sponsor up to five (5) women to attend this event”.

Labour Council VP for Grey, Chris Stephen, looks at those whose shoulders we stand on. “So many in our society suffer discrimination, violence and much worse. Where the labour movement stands firmly for social justice and an end to violence and discrimination of all kind, labour is profoundly proud and humbled to be a partner in the celebration of all that has been accomplished because of awesome activists that have gone before us. Just as we in labour are immensely proud to be an ally as we continue to advance the causes that make our society fair, equitable and inclusive for all.”

The Grey Bruce Labour Council wishes one and all a happy International Women’s Day this March the 8^th, but more importantly be prepared to speak up when injustice is taking place. Injustice abounds in this COVID-19 world as women have become even more economically vulnerable in this pandemic. We must speak truth to power to continue to empower us all in the search for fairness and social justice that IWD so embodies.

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

    The Grey Bruce Labour Council is proud to be part of the Women’s Centre of Grey Bruce’s event on International Women’s Day March 8^th.     Our sister Karen Gventer from OPSEU will be hosting the “Women in the Workforce – Gender Wage Gap”  breakout room on behalf of GBLC.   GBLC has passed a resolution to sponsor up to five (5) women to attend this event. We ask that those interested purchase their own ticket and submit the expense using the attached expense form to our treasurer Gord Cale ([email protected]) who will provide reimbursement to the first five (5) expense forms received.

The Women's Centre Grey Bruce Inc.

Ontario Federation of Labour outraged by Ford Government’s refusal to legislate paid sick days for every Ontario worker - The Ontario Federation of Labour

February 16, 2021

(Toronto) – This morning, Doug Ford’s Conservative Government refused to support the NDP’s call for all-party consent to pass Bill 239, Peggy Sattler’s Stay Home If You Are Sick Act. Bill 239 would provide 7 permanent paid sick days, plus 14 additional days during a pandemic like the COVID-19 crisis. The Ontario Federation of Labour is outraged by the Ford Government’s refusal to immediately pass this critical legislation.

“Legislating paid sick days is a common sense action that public health officials, mayors, and workers’ advocates all agree is essential to curbing the spread of COVID-19,” said Patty Coates, Ontario Federation of Labour President, “PC MPP’s decision to continue to ignore expert advice will result in preventable illnesses and deaths. This government’s refusal to protect Ontarians is infuriating and heartbreaking.”

Workplace outbreaks continue to be a preventable hazard contributing to the spread of COVID-19. Guaranteed employer-provided paid sick days would guarantee critical protections for workers, ensuring they do not have to choose between putting food on the table and going to work sick. Despite claims by Premier Ford and Minister McNaughton that they do not want to duplicate the Federal sickness benefit, the fact is that the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is simply not a replacement for paid sick days.

“Paid sick days ensure no income disruption and are available to every worker who needs them,” said Coates, “the Federal sickness benefit is temporary, restricted, and requires an application. Guaranteed paid sick days are the only way to ensure that workers can stay home to keep their communities safe.”

Workers in Ontario are disappointed in the Ford Government’s refusal to pass Bill 239 today. However, there is still time to legislate the Stay Home If You Are Sick Act. The Ontario Federation of Labour will continue to call on the Ontario legislature to pass this critical measure to keep Ontarians healthy and safe.

The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information, please contact:

Melissa Palermo 
Director of Communications 
Ontario Federation of Labour
[email protected] l 416-894-3456

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