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March 8, 2005 - International Women’s DayA day to celebrate, but also a day to demandInternational Women’s Day represents nearly a century of struggle for women’s equality. This March 8 th 2005, women in the PSAC will not only be celebrating, they will also be actively participating in a campaign that will have a significant impact upon the lives of women everywhere. During our recent National Women’s Conference, held in February 2005, PSAC women showed their leadership by supporting a women’s political agenda calling for protective reassignment for pregnant and nursing workers, proactive pay equity legislation and a national child care program. In the words of PSAC President Nycole Turmel, “We have a responsibility to challenge governments to put human rights ahead of corporate rights, to put public services ahead of profits, and to make equality a priority.” That is why the PSAC is joining the campaign for national child care launched on International Women’s Day by the Canadian Labour Congress. In Canada, more women are working in paid jobs than ever before. The presence of women in the labour force has soared to 71% in 2001 from 44% 30 years earlier. But women’s overwhelming responsibility for child care remains a major obstacle to their full equality. Women’s unpaid work, including child care, limits the time and opportunities they have available for paid work. Too few workplaces offer ‘family friendly’ flexibility. Women are also far more likely than men to be “sandwiched” (caring for children and also for elders). It’s due to the tireless efforts of decades of women that a child care system is even being discussed in Canada at the present time. This makes it all the more important to ensure that we and our children get what we deserve: a Child Care Act with sustainable public funding and non-profit delivery; public accountability tied to clear plans, goals and timelines; and a guarantee that public money goes to children for care, not to investors for profit. We cannot allow critical decisions about child care to be made behind closed doors and we cannot afford the status quo – a patchwork of services across the country with inadequate legislation to guarantee accountability. Neither can we accept a system that makes our children vulnerable to big-box corporate childcare and possible NAFTA challenges. To this day, the Canadian government is not fulfilling its promises to us about child care despite a steady stream of budget surpluses. On this International Women’s Day, the time has come for women to hold them to their promises and show them how to get child care right. What can you do?Here’s what you can to do to support the child care campaign:
If you have any questions about the PSAC Women’s Program, please contact Aalya Ahmad, the Women’s and Human Rights Program Officer. |