Today is International Women’s Day. It is a day to celebrate women and their social, economic, cultural and political achievements. It is also a day to pause and reflect on the imbalances still present in the world. This year’s theme is #BalanceForBetter. We ask that you rise against gender biases and take action for equality, not only for women but for all of humanity.
CUPE has long supported women, fought for their rights, and encouraged women to take positions of power. The first Women’s Committee at CUPE was founded in 1964. Since then women’s rights, and in turn HUMAN rights, have been at the heart of everything we do. CUPE advocates for women’s rights in all areas of society. Did you know the world renowned Canadian maternity and parental leaves stem from actions taken by labour unions including CUPE?
We here at Air Canada Component are proud to represent our largely female dominated workforce and represent all members of Air Canada mainline and Air Canada Rouge. We have a long history of striving for equality and most recently we were able to secure coverage for intra-uterine devices. This addition to our coverage gives women greater control over their reproductive health and general well-being and ensures that there is no longer a financial barrier to accessing alternative methods of contraception.
We still have a lot more ground to cover on the road to equality and encourage all employees, regardless of gender identification, to join us in creating and being #BalanceForBetter.
In solidarity,
Rebeca Woodward
Component Women’s Committee Chairperson