On March 8, Unifor marks International Women’s Day with the theme Persistence with solidarity toward equality.  The past year has brought intense attacks on equality, in Canada and worldwide. In response, we have risen to these challenges and have mobilized across communities.  The strength of the Women’s Marches demonstrates our commitment to moving forward with a diverse, intersectional movement.

Over the past year, Unifor has been actively working to close the gender wage gap, increase access to good jobs including in the skilled trades, and end harassment at work. The government has a role to play in advancing women’s equality. We’ve been active on two fronts in particular.  Unifor calls on the federal government to work with the provinces and territories to create a national child care program because affordable, quality, public child care is integral to women’s economic empowerment and financial security. Unifor is also active in the effort to legislate paid domestic violence leave to aid women who are transitioning to new lives, free of abuse.  The union has already bargained paid leave provisions and the Women’s Advocate program into many of our collective agreements. Now it is time to make these supports into law. No woman should have to choose between economic security and her personal safety.

Join Unifor to bring women’s issues to the government. Call on the federal government for concrete action.

Add your name and send a message to the federal government. Sign today to ask your Member of Parliament (MP) to enact a national child care program and paid domestic leave though the Canada Labour Code click here.

As we celebrate at International Women’s Day events across the country let us take the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to remove all obstacles to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The struggle for equality will take persistence.

Download the poster by clicking here.