Leaders in gender equality from across the globe gathered in Vancouver to attend the 2019 Women Deliver conference, including 12 PIPSC representatives from the Board of Directors, Human Rights Committee and staff team. Joined by a host of other Canadian union activists, the Canadian Labour Congress kicked off the conference with the Union Deliver pre-event.
The theme for this year's Women Deliver conference was Power. Progress. Change. A fitting theme for PIPSC, as we are committed to focusing our power on progressing policies that deliver meaningful change in the lives of all our members.
President Debi Daviau and Vice President Norma Domey were two of PIPSC's representatives at the event. This conference was an opportunity for our leadership to reflect on how gender equality can strengthen our union and the labour movement.
“We have made significant progress to support women’s rights in the workforce; from leading the way on policies for family leave, to paid leave for victims and survivors of domestic violence — gender equality is a top priority,” Debi Daviau, PIPSC President, said.
Throughout the conference, PIPSC delegates heard from global leaders including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, and the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore.
The event was educational and inspired delegates to ignite greater participation and engagement of women in all unions. The experience will be vital to VP Domey's work contributing to the Committee on Human Rights and Diversity and the Women in Science project.
“The Women Deliver Conference re-energized our PIPSC delegates and women globally to keep fighting to end gender-based violence, increase women’s economic empowerment, and ensure gender responsive health systems and services,” Domey said.
Our latest bargaining update highlights historic wins:
- enhanced family-leave
- 10 days of paid leave to survivors and victims of domestic violence
- the first-ever harassment free workplace language in our collective agreement
These wins will help to support and empower women ensuring equal opportunities for everyone across the public sector.
There is still more work to do:
“We are committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment in Canada,” Daviau said. “We will ensure that the door for progress on these issues continues to remain open and that PIPSC is at the forefront of change.”