International Women’s Day is a time to look back on the victories and struggles that have led to greater gender equality in Canada and around the world. It is also a day to remember that there is still much more work to be done to achieve equality for all women. 

Throughout our history, PSAC has fought and achieved significant improvements for women at the bargaining table, in the courts and through mobilization and action. PSAC remains committed to breaking through the barriers faced by all women, including racialized women, Indigenous women, lesbians, bisexual women, trans women, non-binary people and women with disabilities.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with some of PSAC’s women leaders to talk about why it’s so important for women to join their union.

Despite the incredible victories women have achieved through their union, we need your support to overcome the challenges that still stand in the way of gender equality.

On this International Women’s Day, let’s call on the federal, provincial and territorial governments to:

• implement all recommendations from the Calls for Justice;
• implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
• commit to a plan for affordable, high-quality childcare;
• integrate an intersectional approach to the implementation of the National Action Plan to end gender-based violence;
• ensure pay equity legislation is enacted effectively;
• provide workers with 10 paid days of domestic violence leave;
• ratify International Labour Organization Convention C-190; and
• increase funding and access to women’s shelters and sexual assault support centres.

PSAC women have won groundbreaking advances in pay equity, the first-ever collective agreement clause providing sexual harassment protection, paid maternity and parental leave, same sex benefits, domestic violence leave and much more.

We encourage all women to get involved in their union – because together, we have the power to create lasting change!