International Women’s Day 2007 one of the ‘best ever’
Monday March 19, 2007
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Victorian NUW President Julie Warren speaks to the International Women's Day audience
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There was no doubt about it; this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day was one of the best ever.
Close to 100 female Delegates and Occupational Health and Safety Representatives filled the Carlton Social Club for the Conference – the NUW’s eighth official celebration of the event.
With the Howard Government’s IR laws in place for the last 12 months, this year’s event focused on the impact the laws have so far had on women workers.
The event’s guest speakers, ACTU Industrial Officer Cath Bowtell and Federal ALP Health Spokeswoman – and former NUW Organiser – Nicola Roxon, both detailed the devastating impact the Howard Government’s laws had so far had on the wages and conditions of women.
Bowtell revealed that women on Individual Contracts earn $110 a week less than women employed under a Collective Agreement. She also provided figures showing women on Individual Contracts worked longer average hours than women under Collective Agreements, decreasing the time they have with their families.
Bowtell also spoke about how the Howard Government’s laws had curbed the rights of women in relation to maternity leave, while also stopping the Australian Industrial Relations Commission from hearing union cases seeking to improve womens' rights.
The laws, Bowtell said, were some of the least family-friendly in the western world.
Federal MP Nicola Roxon said the impact of Howard’s laws meant they had to be replaced by a new set of laws that promoted fairness and helped families.
“Australia is at a fork in the road,” Roxon said.
She confirmed the ALP would introduce a family-friendly set of work laws if they were elected at this year’s Federal poll.
And while there was much discussion about the treatment of female workers under the Howard Government’s laws, there were also stories of how NUW women had risen to the challenge the laws had posed.
NUW Delegates Margaret Trybus and Karen Saunders spoke about the wins they had had with their fellow members at Sigma and Chep respectively.
And NUW Campaign Organiser Julie Morgan spoke about her time as a Delegate at Murray-Goulburn; a role that led to a full-time position with the NUW.
International Women’s Day 2007 also saw the NUW acknowledge the efforts of two long-serving female Delegates.
Joan Tipping – a Delegate at E D Oates in Reservoir – and Donna Irvine – a Delegate at Kraft Strathmerton – were both recognised for their incredible dedication to the NUW over many years.
International Women’s Day 2007 was further evidence of the remarkable contribution women both inside and outside the NUW make to the wider community through their efforts at the workplace.
And with so many talented women making a positive contribution to the lives of working people, it was little wonder International Women’s Day 2007 was so good.
The NUW’s celebration of International Women’s Day was made possible thanks to the generous support of the following companies:
ED Oates
Ross Cosmetics
Jalna Dairies
Bessemer
Nestle Altona
Henkel
Loreal
Last modified 2007-03-19 05:17 PM
