CUPE PEI WOMEN’S COMMITTEE / NATIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE REPORT TO CONVENTION – MAY 2014

As Chair of the CUPE PEI Women’s Committee and PEI member of the National Women’s Committee, I am pleased to submit this report. The Division Committee met once, on April 14, 2014, andhas communicated “virtually” since the 2013 Convention.

On December 6th, wearing my PEI Federation of Labour VP for Women’s Issues hat, I joined other members of affiliated unions at the Federation of Labour monument in Summerside to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada.

For International Women’s Day, CUPE PEI President Lori Mackay and I sent out a media release focusing on women in decision-making. Our message was a call for more women’s voices in government and more attention to women’s perspectives in public policy. 2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference and PEI women’s groups are organizing “A Bold Vision” conference to celebrate and encourage women’s leadership. We hope more Island women will be inspired to get involved in politics and to bring their valuable viewpoints to the table. We need decision-makers who will consider how policies like the EI reform affect women differently, because of their family responsibilities and different employment situations.

The National Women’s Commitee has been promoting the Domestic Violence in the Canadian Workplace Survey, a CLC and University of Western Ontario sponsored anonymous survey to gather information on how domestic violence impacts workers and the workplace. This survey launched in December 2013 is the first of its kind in Canada. The Canadian research findings will help unions, employers, advocates and governments develop good public policy and negotiate workplace supports at the bargaining table. All workers aged 15 years and older are encouraged to participate, whether or not they have personally experience or witnessed domestic violence.The survey is available online until June 6, 2014.

The national multi-union child care campaign, Rethink Child Care, continues to build public support for a quality, affordable, public child care system across Canada. If you or your local are interested in hosting a kitchen table conversation about child care, let us know.

In the year ahead, new and returning Committee members look forward to meeting more of our CUPE Sisters, hearing about their concerns and working together with other labour organizations and community groups for change.

In solidarity,

Melissa Bruce,

Chair, CUPE PEI Women’s Committee

CUPE PEI Women’s Committee members (2014-2015):

Deborah Wervers, Local 1770 (representing Education sector)

Shirley Johnston, Local 1778 (representing Health sector)

Linda Gillian Young, Local 1870 (representing University sector)

Ruth Pickles, Local 2523 (representing Island EMS/AB Nursing Home & Group Homes)

Amanda Wilson, Local 501 (representing Municipal sector)

Melissa Bruce, Local 1870, Chair; member of National Women’s Committee

Karen Tsistinas, Division Liaison; member of National Child Care Working Group

Wendy Johnston, Staff Advisor/CUPE Equality Representative