Spring 2002
International Women's Day
March 8, 2002
CAW and community celebrations for International Women's Day took place across Canada, March 2-9, 2002. The theme for the 2002 celebrations was "Working in Solidarity: Women, Human Rights and Peace". This is in recognition for the influential and crucial role women play in conflict resolution and peace negotiations, as well as recognizing women's work seeking social justice on the local, regional, national and international scenes. Links are also seen in the struggle of Afghani women, highlighted by the events of September 11, 2001, further highlighting women's reality around the world. We must never forget the women and children living daily with the threat of war, terrorism and violence.
This year as in the past, the Women's Department working in conjunction with the CAW Social Justice Fund and CAW Local Unions donated $90,000 in 48 CAW communities across Canada. CAW Locals made recommendations for the donations to community women's shelters in our ongoing fight against Violence Against Women. Women's committees contacted their local media to cover the presentations and demanded that governments provide core funding for women's programs including women's shelters.
As we come marching, marching
in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens,
a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance
that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing:
"Bread and roses!
Bread and roses! "
CAW Sisters celebrate with bread and roses, IWD celebrations and events... Here is just a brief snippet of events reported to Sisterline that were organized and participated in by CAW women for this year's International Women's Day.
March 2, 2002 - To kick off International Women's Week in Toronto, CAW women celebrated with tributes, songs and stories. President and NEB member Jenny Ahn, presented our donation to Sistering, a women's resource centre for homeless women. Local Union members and guests went on to join with the community women's movement at the University of Toronto for a rally and march through the streets of Toronto. Women celebrated our herstory and economic gains made by women fully understanding not all women enjoy those gains. Peace and Social Justice were in the forefront of women's minds as they kicked off International Women's Week.
March 3, 2002 - The CAW Eastern Women's Network held a fund-raising breakfast at CAW L. 222 hall in celebration of IWD. The sold out event served by the brothers of L.222 also saw the presentation of a Recognition Award to Sister Vi Pilkey, a member of the Local's Family Auxiliary 27. Sister Pilkey was recognized for her commitment to women's advancement in her community and local union.
March 8, 2002 - CAW Winnipeg Women's Network had a very busy day, first presenting the CAW donation to the IKWE and Nova House Women's Shelter and touring the facility. The network went on to the Manitoba legislature for a rally, and then participated in a Wellness Fair sponsored by the Manitoba Federation of Labour. When that event concluded the Winnipeg women took to the streets to celebrate the achievements of women past and present.
CAW L. 636, Woodstock ON celebrated IWD with a breakfast at the local hall, where an award was presented to Ruth Johnston for her contribution to the goals of working women in the Woodstock community. The Women's Emergency Centre was the recipient of a $2000 donation from the SJF. The sisters also reported that they are currently working on a campaign to obtain a Women's Health Care Centre at the new Woodstock General Hospital building.
CAW L. 1530, Belleville ON presented a cheque for $2000 to the Three Oaks Foundation. The Foundation in turn presented the Local with plaques of appreciation for past donations and activities in the fight against Violence against Women.
CAW L. 2001, Woodstock New Brunswick celebrated with the presentation of a cheque for $2000 to Sanctuary House. This is the first connection with Sanctuary House by L.2001 and the shelter welcomes this newfound partnership.
March 9, 2002 - CAW London and Area Women's Network held a Health Fair at L. 27 Hall. Guest speakers were scheduled hourly to provide information specifically for women on breast cancer, poverty, and homelessness. Community and health providers set up booths to provide valuable resource information and community contacts for future reference.
Sister Julie White, Director of Women's Programs reported to the National Executive Board that CAW women participated across the country in many events including information fairs, cultural events, and IWD marches to celebrate their gains. Julie went on to acknowledge that not all women share equally in those gains, "We must raise our collective voices with renewed energy, until all women reach full equality in society, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally."
Childcare: Ontario's
Children Can't Wait
In a newspaper advertisement timed to appear just before the opening of the Ontario legislature, the CAW has challenged the provincial Tories to follow the Quebec model and provide affordable licensed child care.
"It's about time Ontario catches up with the rest of the industrialized world in providing universal quality child care," said Peggy Nash, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove. Nash said it's outrageous that at a time when there is more wealth in the province than ever before, child poverty is skyrocketing.
There are two components under Quebec's newly instituted family policy. The first is extended maternity/parental leave for one year at 75 per cent of previous earnings, which includes self-employed parents. The second is full day schooling for children five years old and up with school boards responsible for before and after school care for children ages 5 to 12. Children's centres provide a range of parent supports including flexible child care for children up to four years of age at a cost of $5 per day to parents.
Julie White, CAW Women's Programs director, said Ontario should adopt Quebec's approach.
"Affordable child care is an important economic equalizer in society because it gives all kids the advantage of a strong head start," said White. Here are some of the key points from the ad:
* Over the next five years, Ottawa will give the provinces $2.2 billion to spend on young children. Ontario's share is $840-million, but the Ontario government has decided that not one cent is going for licensed child care.
* Instead the Ontario government chose to spend $2 million on an advertising campaign, wasting millions of dollars-money that should have been spent on programs for children and families-not advertising.
* The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development recommends that child care be universal and urges governments to take the lead. While most OECD members spend more than 1 percent of their Gross Domestic Product for child care, Ontario spends only $461 million or one-tenth of one percent.
* High quality child care equips children for school and a healthier, more successful life. Yet only 1 in 10 Ontario children have access to child care.
* Employer child care programs, like those negotiated by CAW-Canada with the Big Three auto companies, help, but they cannot replace the role of the Ontario government.
Contact, Volume 32, No. 19, May 12, 2002
For more information on Child Care see www.caw.ca
Watch for CAW Women's Conference call letter!
"CAW WOMEN MOBILIZING, ORGANIZING FROM THE WORKPLACE TO THE BARGAINING TABLE AND BEYOND"
The Women's Dept. is gearing up the 2002 Women's Conference, August 25-28, 2002 at the Family Education Centre in Port Elgin! This year there will be our usual childcare, special events, guest speakers and a variety of workshops. Conference goals are to develop skills of CAW women 's personal and leadership skills and to build sisterhood and solidarity among delegates. Workshops choices include a variety of popular topics such as Finding Our Voices, So You Want To Be a Shop Steward, Confronting Homophobia and Violence in the Workplace all with a feminist twist. So, keep an eye for the call letter and register soon, this conference always fills up quick.
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New Publication from the CLC
A wonderful new booklet is available at no cost (FREE!) from the CLC. The booklet is a great educational and organizing tool for women's committees, human rights committees, and employment equity representatives. It is full of facts about women, family issues, making our contracts work for women etc. You may obtain yours by contacting the Canadian Labour Congress at http://www.clc-ctc.ca/ or by mail at CLC, 2841 Riverside Dr., Ottawa, ON K1V 8X7, phone (613) 521-4655.
A Must See Video:
For Our Daughters-For all of Us
This video is now available at your local halls, plan to show at your next general membership meeting. The film documents the CAW's ongoing commitment to eliminate violence against women, through bargaining gains and community involvement. This video gets two thumbs up for its portrayal of personal stories and worker's struggle to make their workplaces and communities safer.
CAW Big Three Women's Skilled
Trades and Technology Awareness Pilot Program
On March 17th, 2002 the CAW launched the Women's and Skilled Trades and Technology Awareness Pilot Program in Port Elgin.
This pilot was a smashing success!! One hundred and twelve women from all Big Three locals (GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler) participated in a program to raise women's awareness with respect to a career in skilled trades. The program was bargained as a component of the CAW/Big Three National Training Fund, that also includes Union Awareness, Respectful Workplace, Stress and Ergonomics.
Women attending the program thoroughly enjoyed the experience as it clearly outlined the elements of skilled jobs in the plants, the educational requirements needed to qualify for an apprenticeship, and hands on projects.
Guest speakers ranged from the top leadership of our Union, journeywomen from GM, Ford, ACSYS Oshawa and Daimler-Chrysler along with community college resource women. Long time women activists within our union facilitated along with CAW journey women who where able to relate real life experiences while completing their apprenticeships within the workplace. It should be noted that all but one of these journeywomen involved, completed CAW apprenticeships.
This was a fine example of Union built and produced training. The pilot program gave women the proper information in deciding whether to make this serious career change.
Participants' comments ranged from "the week was awesome in raising my awareness in skilled trades, and I feel more knowledgeable and prepared for an apprenticeship" to "this week has opened my eyes to the opportunities and rewards that the union has to offer."
Congratulations to CAW Work Organization and Training Department, CAW Skilled Trades Department and the Big Three Master Bargaining committees for negotiating and developing an education program with vision that developed real life skills for CAW women to reach their goals, be it a career in skilled trades or union activism, all were inspired and left with a new sense of the union as they returned to their workplaces to take on new challenges.
It's Congratulations Time!
Congratulations to Sister Anne Davidson, President Local 2002, for her acclamation to the new CAW Local 2002, an airline local that spans from coast to coast to coast. WOW!!
Congratulations, little sisters!! CAW Local 636, submitted to Sisterline the names of three young sisters who where the winners of an International Human Rights Day essay contest held at L.636. Ross Gerry, President, wrote that Katie Buitendyk, Caitlin VanDeCappelle, and Kate Gresty's essays dramatically showed that the youth of today are in touch with both global and local issues.
Recently, Sisterline received an encouraging letter from CAW L.1000 regarding a hard-fought, successful strike at Value Village in Whitby, Ont. Sister Dee Hoos thanked all concerned for their help and solidarity, however she ended her note with a saying they have at the 'Village', "Never under-estimate the power of an educated woman".
Huge Congrats go to the Canadian Olympic Women's Hockey Team!!! Now that's girl power, yeehaw!! We send our regards and thanks.
Students of Middlefield Collegiate keep Violence Against Women an priority throughout the year
Vilvan Gunasingham, President CAW Local 1980 wrote:
"On Saturday, I was shopping at the Garden Grocery Store at 16th and Markham Road. Out of 14 cashiers, 8 were wearing our CAW Dec 6th buttons-End Violence for Our Daughters. I recognized one cashier a student from Middlefield and she told me that most of the cashiers are from different schools in Markham and the button is part of their uniform and they feel proud to wear it at all times.
I then visited two schools before work to find students wearing our buttons on their jackets and backpacks.
It was a wonderful feeling to experience that the work of our union continues well beyond Dec 6th. "
Congratulations to the students of Markham schools! If we all continue to challenge the governments to address violence against women collectively, they will have no choice but to hear our voices!!!!!!!!
Newsletter Feedback
We need help putting together this newsletter. If you would like to contribute ideas for future editions of Sisterline, please send in your suggestions, articles, photographs, poetry, cartoons, questions, news bites, reports on events and happenings, etc. to:
SISTERLINE
c/o Julie White
Director
Women's Programs
CAW-Canada
205 Placer Court
Toronto, ON M2H 3H9
