International Women’s Day

To all CEP Local Unions

Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Re: International Women’s Day - March 8, 2009

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been celebrated around the world for over 90 years and on March 8, 1977, the United Nations established an official International Women’s Day.  International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on advances towards women’s equality and the gains we have made over the decades.  Some gains over the years include: women obtaining the right to vote, achieving employment and pay equity, and obtaining paid maternity leaves.

International Women’s Day provides an opportunity for women and men to join together to call for a better world for women and girls and to celebrate and support the fight for equality.  We can do this at the bargaining table by advancing demands for decent paying jobs, pay equity and good benefits for both women and men.  Lobby efforts directed at all levels of government should focus on restoring and implementing important social programs, such as universal childcare programs.

The gains of women over the last century have been made through hard fought battles. On International Women’s Day we celebrate our strong women activists in CEP and other unions and recognize their important contribution to workers’ struggles.

In closing, we wish all women in CEP all the best on International Women’s Day and encourage all CEP members to continue with the fight for equality!

In solidarity,

Dave Coles, President
Lara Acheson, Chairperson, CEP Women’s Committee