Women’s Committee Update – IBEW-FIOE 2228
Categories: IBEW, IBEW 2228, Ontario
Hello and happy start of fall to all our IBEW 2228 sisters and brothers!
The Women’s Committee sent five delegates to the Women’s Caucus in May in Niagara Falls. Over two days, we heard from speakers about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, how to raise motions, the ins and outs of bargaining, leadership, and social media influencing. The speakers and topics were all timely, practical, and well-delivered. But just as important as the scheduled speakers were the open-mic and after-hour discussions with sisters from across the country. The struggles of proper-fitting PPE and clean bathroom spaces continues – an issue that impacts our brothers as well – and sisters are still experiencing misogyny in the workplace, whether it be subtle, rampant, or even violent (see the case of Amber Czech; if you’re not familiar, I encourage you to take a few minutes to look up her story).
A stand-out moment for myself was a small one at the start of the conference: the acknowledgement that for the first time we had a mother/daughter pair of delegates. While it’s been common for men to pass their trades down to their sons, it is only recently that we’re finally seeing the same trends between mothers and daughters in the trades.
I want to take a moment here to acknowledge that the success of the Women’s Caucus was in large part due to the efforts of our own IBEW 2228 Women’s Committee Co-chair and Assistant Business Manager Meaghan Olmstead – thank you Meaghan for all your hard work. Full reports on the Caucus will be presented at the fall Executive Board. If anyone is at all curious for more details about the Caucus, please feel free to reach out.
In terms of other business, here are some of the things we’ve been working on:
– Our Women’s Committee now has its own dedicated WhatsApp group, so that members can more easily share news or ask questions of one another
– We are continuing to work on our Strategic Planning
– We are starting up a series of education snippets that highlight the history of women in the trades as well as current challenges women face
– Ongoing discussion of how to increase recruitment of women into our trade
– Standing items to cover any workplace deficiencies or issues
If you’re interested in joining the Women’s Committee, we are always looking for more sisters to join! Meetings are approximately one hour, and happen every 4 to 6 weeks on a weekday evening. Send us an email at [email protected] for more information or to join.
Women’s Rights – Education
FEDERAL VOTINIG RIGHTS
- 1917 Wartime Elections Actand Military Voters Act
During the First World War, all male and female members of the armed forces serving overseas and female relatives of soldiers are offered the right to vote. This is the first time that some women, some men under the age of 21, some Asian Canadians, and some First Nations people can vote in a Canadian federal election
- 1918 Many women can vote federally
Canadian women now have the right to vote in federal elections if they meet the same eligibility criteria as men.
- 1948 All Asian Canadians gain the vote
The federal vote is now open to Canadians regardless of provincial exclusions. Japanese, Chinese and other Asian Canadians can vote federally, no matter which province they live in.
- 1960 First Nations women and men can vote
First Nations women and men can vote no matter where they live and without giving up their Indian status.
WHEN WOMEN GAINED THE RIGHT TO ATTEND COLLEGE/UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA
Women gained the right to attend college in Canada gradually, beginning in the late 19th century.
The gradual integration of women in Canadian institutions of higher education would result in members of the female student body to achieve the highest levels of their professions, including McGill’s very own “unwavering trailblazer,” Maude Abbott, who graduated from McGill with a Bachelor of Arts in 1890.
WHEN COULD A WOMAN GET A MORTGAGE IN CANADA
In Canada, women could first reliably get a mortgage on their own after the passage of the Canadian Human Rights ACT in 1977.
This landmark legislation finally made it illegal for financial institutions to discriminate on the basis of sex or marital status, eliminating the need for a male co-signer.