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Unions Tasmania Women
Unions Tasmania Women's Committee
This is a cross Union Committee which focuses on a variety of issues impacting on women workers in Tasmania, Australia and internationally. If you would like to get involved email admin@unionstas.com.au .
Unions Tasmania Women’s Banner
The Unions Tasmania Banner project arose two years ago when the need was expressed for a banner that reflected the role and contribution of women to the union movement in Tasmania. The women featured on the banner have been nominated by supporting unions who felt that the person, whether being a delegate or official, represented important aspects of union history and progress for all working women. Further details relating to the banner and the women depicted on the banner can be found by clicking on the link below.
Banner Brochure (pdf 1.5 mb)
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Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 is the way forward
Gender Equality Blueprint 2010
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, launched her Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 at the National Press Club today, saying that, in the wake of securing the major reform of paid parental leave scheme for Australia, there is a risk that gender equality will be considered to be “finished business”, making further reform unnecessary.
“The Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 is a next stage of reform,” said Commissioner Broderick. “Nine major national reviews have and, if they tell us anything, it is that there remains a major gap in equality between women and men.”
The Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 sets out 15 recommendations in five priority areas, which were identified from Commissioner Broderick’s 2007 national listening tour.
“These recommendations are an effort to focus on practical, achievable changes that can be made now,” Commissioner Broderick said. “And I am pleased to say that, in some areas, these changes are already under way.”
Launching the Blueprint at the National Press Club today, Ms Broderick addressed three of the main areas of recommendation – childcare and out of school care, promoting women in leadership and preventing violence against women.
In relation to childcare, the Commissioner said, “We need a national childcare body, adequately empowered and resourced, that will oversee ongoing development towards a system of high quality, accessible, affordable universal childcare.”
In terms of promoting women in leadership, “We need the Australian Government to announce a minimum 40% of each gender on all federal government boards to be achieved within three years, with progress against this target reported annually.”
Addressing sexual harassment and violence against women, “We need a major national prevention strategy to drive down the incidence of sexual harassment in our workplaces, and we need an independent body to monitor the implementation of the national plan to reduce violence against women.”
Commissioner Broderick urged the Government and political parties to adopt the Blueprint, the business sector to put innovative gender equality strategies in place, and to measure achievement against them, and unions to maintain their focus on pay equity. She also encouraged women’s groups and other NGOs to continue the sophisticated and sustained advocacy that was so instrumental in finally delivering paid parental leave to the community.
The Gender Equality Blueprint 2010 is available on the Australian Human Rights Commission website at: www.humanrights.gov.au/sex_discrimination/publication/blueprint
Media contacts: Brinsley Marlay – 02 9284 9851 or 0430 366 529
Female Genital Mutilation
For your information, the AEU has made the following statement on the federal website.
We have also written to the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetricians and to Health Minister Nicola Roxon calling for the abandonment of this prospect, for possible legislation and for international leadership to stop FGM.
Female Genital Mutilation
The Australian Education Union expresses shock at the consideration being given by Australian doctors to perform female genital mutilation. It is a breach of human rights, it is child abuse and it is illegal in Australia for good reason.
AEU policy is clear. “In the case of human rights abuses associated with female genital mutilation there can be no equivocation.”
We urge the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetricians to abandon the notion of assisting in (and legitimising) this barbaric practice and instead join with the community in a renewed effort to condemn, oppose and stop FGM. more....
Gender Equality: What Matters to Australian Men and Women
Video Clip and information - Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick has recently launched a report on a national listening tour.
Key themes which emerged included:
- paid maternity leave
- pay equity
- financial literacy/independence
Click here for more information and have your say.
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AEU Childcare Policy
At AEU Branch Council on Friday 7 August, a Childcare Policy for AEU members was passed. The purpose is to ensure that people with caring responsibilities are able to participate in their Union. The key feature of this policy is that if members wish to attend a Union function for example a conference, training Executive or Council meetings and they have caring responsibilities for children, they can apply for childcare assistance from their Union. The rate of payment along with the guidelines for accessing childcare is outlined in the document. Thanks to those members of the AEU Women’s Committee who were instrumental in achieving this outcome. If you have any queries, please contact me rozm@aeutas.org.au
Home alone: term break no holiday for children - KEELI CAMBOURNE
Sydney Morning Herald September 20, 2009
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