Today, we?re proud to celebrate International Women?s Day 2017 ? Be Bold for Change. International Women?s Day is a day to celebrate the valuable achievements women have made across the world and a time to reflect on the progress made to advance equality for women. Despite these successes, we recognize that there are still many barriers and challenges that remain in working towards gender parity. Working together we can be agents for change, fighting for equality, justice and women?s rights.

?I am proud to say that 67 per cent of BCGEU members are women,? said Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president. ?They work in every community, in every sector, making valuable contributions to our province. Today, and every day, let?s celebrate the social, cultural and political achievements of women, but also stand together in solidarity with women's struggles all over the world.?

Take the pledge on how YOU will BE BOLD at the International Women?s Day site www.internationalwomensday.com/BeBold

Share your message of support and activism through social media using #beboldforchange and help create a more inclusive, gender equal world.

We?re also excited to share with you a number of ways in which women in our union and with our allies are bold in their work for change:

Creating a Vision for Change
To coincide with International Women?s Day, this Friday and Saturday, BCGEU Component 3 ? Community Social Services ? is hosting an event called Creating a Vision for Change. This will be the first time our union has brought together front-line workers in women?s services, and we will be joined by 60 members from across the province.  The purpose of the event is to discuss the issues they face in providing services to women in our province.

Canadian Labour Congress: Why Wait for Equity?
The Canadian Labour Congress is inviting union members to challenge the federal government to make real progress toward women?s economic justice. They are calling on them to take three, simple actions in 2017: table pay equity legislation, sign a new deal on child care with the provinces and territories, and put paid domestic violence leave in the Canada Labour Code.
Check out whywait2017.ca for more information.

We are the Union: Women?s Work

Have you seen the BCGEU?s documentary We are the Union: Women?s Work yet?

BCGEU?s female members have been a powerful voice since before they were able to hold elected positions. Through the passionate work of hundreds of women, the union has achieved incredible strides towards gender equity both within the organization and for its members. This film, launched last fall, celebrates some of their stories. The video was produced by the BCGEU Provincial Executive Women's Committee.

VIDEO: We are the union: Women's Work

International Women?s Day events:

Victoria

• International Women's Day ? Victoria: https://www.facebook.com/events/108738986319968/?ti=icl

Vancouver

• Vancouver and District Labour Council Women's Day Dinner, Evening of March 8 at Fraserview Hall: http://vdlc.ca/mc-events/2017-iwd-dinner/
• Glamoramas 'Rant on Sister' event, Evening of March 8 at Columbia Theatre: http://www.grandmotherscampaign.org/event/glamoramas-rant-on-sister

Want to spread the work on social media? Here are the International Women?s Day hashtags:

#BeBoldForChange 

#IWD2017

#IWD

#EqualityMatters

#InternationalWomensDay