The Cadre -

9 March 1999

Feature 7

Bread and Roses: Celebrating International Womens’s Day

By MELISSA DOUCETTE

March 8 is Interna- tional Women’s Day. It had its beginnings in the labour movement, where women fought for better wages and working conditions, and later the right to vote.

The date was chosen because of an event that took place on March 8, 1909. Fif- teen thousand women marched through the streets

of New York City, protesting for shorter working hours, safe working conditions, equal pay, and the right to vote. They were violently dispersed by police.

Their anthem was “Bread and Roses,” symbol- izing economic security (bread), and better life (roses).

On March 5, 1999, their struggles and the strug- gle of all women fighting for

equality in their personal and professional lives were com- memorated by the —s of “Bread and Roses. he event took place at a break- fast sponsored by the Cana- dian Labour Congress, the PEI Federation of Labour Women’s Committee, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Special Guest speaker was Nancy Riche, executive director of the Canadian La- bour Congress.

“International Wom- en’s Day is a celebration of Mp is va a woman,” Riche began. “It’s not a

Riche’s talk was tied into the theme of “A Society for All Ages” which is the Federal Government's ver- sion of the United Nations- sponsored Year of the Older Person. Riche said that pay equity will have an important impact on older people. Pen- sion funds are tied to wage — which —— help stave o poverty so many elderly -- and single women -- now live in.

“I have never seen such an attack in my life,” oa Riche on the fed-

government's 7 pang ! to pay equity. PSAC work- ers fought for 14 years on this issue, and the Supreme Court of Canada recently ordered

the federal government to pay $5 billion owed to female

workers. The federal govern- ment, which added pay eq- uity to women’s rights legis- lature in 1977, appealed the decision.

PSAC workers are not the only women who face pay equity struggles.

Women at Bell Canada have been fighting for 9 years on this issue. In the last few weeks, Bell Canada announced that the lay-off of 2400 workers -- most of whom were women, and a pay reduction of 40 per cent. Many of these women were os + involved in the stru or pay equity.

SeRiche otioubded that the federal government will be changing the law to avoid paying the $5 billion.

According to her, the federal overnment has called the aw “confusing,” and wishes to amend it.

Riche spoke about “the length they'll go not to pay women what they are worth.”

She commented on re- marks made by people around pay equity to the ef- fect that they are not to it, but feel that $5 billion is too much.

“If the women are owed $5 billion, then they're underpaid by $5 billion,” re- plied Ride.

She concluded by stat- ing that the battle for pay eq- uity is a victory for years to come.

Join the

Women’s Day.

The women all come marching, marching, hand in hand

World Women’s March 2000 March 8 is International

Join in the local activities or start something yourself.

2:59 AM

You’re still umconscious

Medic Alert

1-800-668-1507

Se is

oe

ae i and