On March 8th, as we take time to celebrate the achievements that women have made and their contributions to a better world, we must also renew our resolve to fight for a true and equitable society,” stresses James Clancy, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

Ottawa (8 Mar. 2011) – "On International Women’s Day, as we take time to celebrate the achievements that women have made and their contributions to a better world, we must also renew our resolve to fight for a true and equitable society,” stresses James Clancy, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

One of the steps to achieving equality is ensuring economic stability through measures such as pay equity but also ensuring access to adequate public services such as child care and elder care.

The financial crisis in 2008 led the entire global economy into a deep recession. Many organizations such as the United Nations and the International Labour Organization warned that those hardest hit worldwide are women who make up the majority of those earning lower wages, working in precarious occupations and living in poverty.

Governments say that we must reduce spending to deal with the deficit yet continue to reward the real culprits of the financial crisis with massive corporate tax cuts. The less corporations pay, the more the middle class and the poor are forced to pay, with women and children in the majority of those living in poverty in Canada.

To ensure women achieve full equality, we need a tax system which forces corporations pay their fair share. Fair taxation would provide funds to invest in valuable public services such as health care, education, early childhood learning, social services and the Canada Pension Plan. These are the building blocks for a healthy and equitable society in which women are equal in employment opportunities, pay and the ability to balance their working life with their home life.

Clancy continues, "As the new head of the UN Women’s agency so aptly stated gender equality must become a lived reality.”

NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE