Like most women, I will be rushing around on International Women’s Day, multi-tasking rather than basking in reflection of our sisters accomplishments, past and present. Fortunately this year, I will be a cog in the CUPE Metro District Council’s luncheon for women in the Downtown Eastside Area, so will get to cheer on the work of that community. Our event (luncheon, speakers and entertainment) will be held at the Maritime Labour Centre at from 12.00 pm to 2.00 p.m.
International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday. The first IWD was run in 1911. Next year is IWD Global Centenary 1911-2011. See web articleHistory of International Women’s Day
Upcoming Event
- Date & time: 13 March 2010 6.00 to 11.00
- Event: CELEBRATE WOMEN’S STRUGGLES AROUND THE WORLD!- WOMAN’S PLACE IS IN THE STRUGGLE!
- About: Strong speeches, cultural performances, good food, international music and dancing, Solidarity Notes Choir
- FREE ADMISSION 6:00-9:00 Program Proper; 9:00-11:30 Dancing & Live DJ International Food for Sale Cash Bar available
- Venue: Britannia Britannia Community Centre CAFETERIA Near Commercial Drive at Napier Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
- Organisation: IWD2010 Committee in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada: IWD Organizing Committee: Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, Iranian Centre for Peace, Freedom and Social Justice, New Noise (Mexico), Migrante B.C, Cultural House of Malawna (Afghanistan)~Bureau for Latin America and Caribbean Solidarity, UNAMG (Guatemala)~ Nisga’a Urban Women’s Organizing Committee, FMLN-Vancouver, International League of People’s Struggle-Canada
I was thinking about the multi-tasking aspects of our natures today. It is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, we care for and nurture our communities, on the other, we are too busy to focus narrowly on what we still need to accomplish. Our attention is always being distracted to the very real needs of others when we are in the midst of trying to be in command of our political entity; to achieve what needs to be done to achieve tangible equality through a practice of real equity.
Please make a resolution tomorrow and remind yourself in some way each day after; to choose one way that you can further social and economic standing of womenkind. In female-dominated workforces such as libraries, health and social services, we need to remember that men that work along side of us, often get the same treatment. They also have mothers and sisters who struggle to rise above the ghetto of part-time hours, and lower wages for work of equal value.
- standalone legislation for pay equity
- universal day-care, $10 minimum wage
- a living wage that includes a living number of hours
- a human rights complaint that makes pay equity a provincially legislated bill
- become a job evaluation expert!
and
Just pick one each though; a cause loses its ability to sustain itself when spread too thinly. Let your union know what kind of support you want. We, as collective, can let the provincial and national representatives of CUPE know our direction. There are 70,000 CUPE members in this province alone. That is a powerful voice for change in 2013.
I think I will have a look at our management’s job evaluation plan. Just focus! Happy International Women’s Day from a card-carrying member of the gender.
Check out the CBC Sunday Edition show today as soon as the podcast is up. It was terrific. http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/podcast.html