Welcome
The Women in Trade Unions Network (WITUN) is an organisation containing - within a flexible membership structure - a variety of women from different unions and different areas of the workforce.
This year WITUN will be sending a message out to network members every month, so if you have things you want included please email us and we will include them in our regular bulletins.
The email network is for women who are union members, activists or officials including those women who are retired members. If you would like to join the network email us at saunions@saunions.org.au
Events Coming Up
RECLAIM THE NIGHT - CELEBRATION
Friday 31 October 2008 : 7.00 - 11.30 pm at Yungondi Courtyard, Lion Arts Centre (cnr North Terrace and Morphett Street.
PAID MATERNITY LEAVE - DUE DATE MAY 12, 2009
We need a national scheme for paid maternity leave delivered in the next Federal Budget- May 12, 2009. We have waited far too long for Australia to have what most other countries of the world have. Even the Productivity Commission supports it now!
Get behind the campaign - we need to pump it up between now and February. Spread the word & Join the activities.
What you can do
1. Copy and send the message below to everyone you know.
2. Join in the action - put these dates in your diary
7 November 9.30-12.30
Women Health Statewide 64 Pennington Terrace, North Adelaide. Join the consultation with the Commonwealth Office for Women facilitated by National Foundation of Australian Women. RSVP Working Women’s Centre : 8410 6499
12 November 8.30am
Rally outside Productivity Commission Hearing – Stamford Plaza, 150 North Terrace, Adelaide. Bring yourselves, your friends, family, babies, pushers and bellies, Come and meet the stork!
3. We need your stories
Send yours or others stories of how you managed without adequate leave or how you appreciated the leave you have at saunions@saunions.org.au
For the love of working mothers, children and their families
For the Sydney mother who works in a fast food restaurant whose baby was born prem and had to go back to work while he was still in the hospital. She lost her milk because she had to express milk in her breaks. (SBS Insight)
For the young couple who want to have children but can’t see how they will manage with the mortgage payments so they put it off and off and off.
For those many women who quit their jobs at the time of childbirth.
For the 47% of Australian working women who have no access to any paid leave for parenting.
For the vast number of women who return work far too early after having a child who earn under $700 a week.
Sign the on-line petition > here
Send this message to 5 other people and a baby somewhere will thank you!
Emily's List Fundraisers
Emily's list is an organisation which raises money and supports progressive women who are running for Parliament.
"The Ernies Book - 1000 terrible things Australian men have said about women", is available to purchase contact Meredith Boyle on 8371 5600 or email meredith.boyle@parliament.sa.gov.au
History
The Network was formed in 1983 by a group of women involved with two South Australian Institutions - the Working Women's Centre and the United Trades & Labor Council (SA Unions). Some of the foundation members are Steph Key (now a Member of Parliament), Carolyn Pickles (ex MLC).
The strength of the union movement is based on its collective, democratic organisation and its unity of purpose. While women's share of union membership is rising, their participation in union affairs is lagging. This reflects women's major share of child rearing and domestic work and the lack of awareness in many unions of the problems facing women members and ways of involving women.
SA Unions Women's Standing Committee's role is to address these issues that women face in the workforce. Unions are committed through the Standing Committee in increasing women's involvement in the workforce.
Links
Working Women's Centre - www.wwc.org.au
Office for Women - www.officeforwomen.sa.gov.au
Equal Opportunity Commission - www.eoc.sa.gov.au
