International Women’s Day: Time to #PressforProgress

International Women's Day (IWD) is recognized internationally on March 8th each year to celebrate the global achievements of women and the extraordinary role women have played in their communities and across the world. Despite these successes, we are faced with continued inequality and there is still much to be done. Let's continue to move forward – not backward - on women's rights and equality.

"Through hard work and solidarity, we have made great strides at the bargaining table to improve the overall working conditions of working people, and of all women in BC," said BCGEU President Stephanie Smith.

"We've achieved significant gains in child and dependent care, harassment and bullying, violence in the workplace, and health and safety, to name a few. But there is still much work to do. With the emergence of #Metoo and Time's Up movements, it is important that we continue to fight for safe, healthy worksites, and the BCGEU has always been at the forefront of that. We have to make sure that we feel empowered to stand up and speak out against harassment, sexual harassment, bullying and gender violence."

The theme for IWD 2018 is #PressforProgress

According to the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report, gender parity is over 200 years away. It's time to mobilize and #PressforProgress!

Share your message of support and activism through social media using #pressforprogress and collectively, we can all help to create a more inclusive, gender equal world.

We're also excited to share with you a new campaign in which women in our union and our allies are working for change:

Canadian Labour Congress: Done Waiting

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 www.donewaiting.ca for more information.

Tampon Tuesday

Periods might be tough to talk about, but they are just a fact of life. Nobody should have to pick between feeding their family and being able to afford basic hygiene products. But sadly too many people are forced to make these tough choices. Too many young girls in our community are missing days at school because they don't have menstruation products. Too many are embarrassed as they scramble to use old cloth scraps or have to ask others for help.

But you can be part of changing this story. By donating hygiene products to Tampon Tuesday between March 6 and 20, you are both helping raise profile about the need in our community and ensuring United Way can get products right to those who need them most. Collection boxes have been set up at BCGEU offices.

We are the Union: Women's Work

ICYMI: Did you get a chance to check out the BCGEU's documentary We are the Union: Women's Work? The BCGEU Provincial Executive Women's Committee produced this powerful documentary video We are the union: Women's Work in the fall of 2016. The film celebrates some of the stories of BCGEU's women members and their remarkable achievements throughout history.

International Women's Day events

International Women's Day Dinner - Women on the Waterfront

Thursday March 8, 5:15 p.m., Vancouver

Hosted by Vancouver District Labour Council

#EMPOWERHER2018: Press for Progress with Senator Mobina Jaffer

Thursday March 8, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Burnaby

West Coast Leaf Equality Breakfast

Friday March 9, 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., Vancouver

Women in Entertainment Celebration and Fundraiser

Saturday, 10 March 2018 at 7:00 p.m.

Imperial Vancouver, 319 Main Street, Vancouver

Raising Hope: International Women's Day Celebration