Women of the pan-Canadian labour movement speak out at UN

Statement by women’s organizations and the pan-Canadian labour movement, New York, March 1st, 2012

Public Service Alliance of Canada
March 2, 2012

Representatives women’s organizations and of the pan-Canadian labour movement are gathered in New York on the occasion of the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The theme this year focuses on empowering rural women, and we are here to ensure that governments agree to protecting public services, providing access to decent work and quality education and training at all levels for rural and Aboriginal women.

We are very dissatisfied with the statement that was issued on February 29 by the Honorable Rona Ambrose, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, at the plenary session of the Commission. In that statement, there was no mention of the role of government in the development of policies and programs that could empower rural women.

No reference to the important role of public services, such as public transportation, clean water, health care, affordable housing and quality education, in ensuring women’s equality and full participation in society.

No reference to the importance of ensuring that rural women have access to decent work, including pay equity, health and safety at work and child care.

No reference to an action plan addressing violence against Aboriginal women, poverty alleviating measures, or other measures to end the housing and education crisis on and off reserve.

No reference to the importance of ensuring that women participate in the process leading to local, regional and national development policies.

And while the government is preparing the federal budget 2012, there was no reference to the importance of taking gender into account in budgetary policies, despite repeated promises to do so.

We reiterate that we are:

• In support of public services
• In support of access for rural women to affordable, quality, public and not-for-profit early learning and care
• In support of the transfer of the gun registry data to the provinces and territories
• In support of the rights of Aboriginal women
• For the application of “decent work” standards, and their application to women working in rural regions
• For the adoption of a gender sensitive federal budget

We ask that the federal government respect its commitment under the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, that it revise its current policies and take the necessary measures to effectively respect and promote women’s rights, in particular women living in rural and remote regions.

Canadian Auto Workers - Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses de l’automobile
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions - Fédération canadienne des syndicats d’infirmières et infirmiers
Canadian Federation of University Women
Canadian Labour Congress - Congrès du travail du Canada
Canadian Teachers’ Federation - Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants
Canadian Union of Postal Workers - Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses des postes
Canadian Union of Public Employees - Syndicat canadien de la function publique
Centrale des syndicats du Québec
Confédération des syndicats nationaux - Confederation of National Trade Unions
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec
Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec
International Association of Machinists (IAMAW)
National Council of Women of Canada
Northern Territories Federation of Labour
Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association
Ontario Federation of Labour
Public Service Alliance of Canada - Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada
Syndicat de la function publique du Québec
United Steelworkers - Syndicat des métallos