
Issue No 76		03 November 2000

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News

Union Women Set The Pace

The governing body of the ACTU comprised equal numbers of women and men for the first time since it was formed in 1927 when it met this week.

This is thought to be the first time in Australia that a major organisation has implemented a 50% rule on its governing body. The move is also a first for any union body in the world.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the change was a substantial advance for women and showed that unions were committed to equal representation.

"What we need now is for other organisations to do the right thing. Women should be equally represented in boardrooms, the judiciary and the media. When that happens, Australia will be a more mature, rounded society," she said.

"Australian women still face discrimination every day. Women are employed as casuals so their employers can slide out of paying full entitlements such as maternity leave. And the great majority of people who called our recent hotline on workplace bullying were women."

Ms Burrow said the women on the ACTU Executive would work to improve maternity rights. The ACTU has written to the Government urging it to ratify the ILO Maternity Protection Convention 2000, and has urged the Government to implement the recommendations into Australian law.

"Unions have staked their ground here. We are committed to achieving maternity leave for casual workers, and to extending paid pregnancy leave," she said.

The Maternity Protection Convention will:

Protect the rights of pregnant women regardless of whether they are full-time, part-time, or casual
Pay a pregnant woman two-thirds of her pre-leave earnings for at least 14 weeks
Support breastfeeding in the workplace
In the case of unlawful termination, place the onus on the employer to prove that the dismissal is not related to pregnancy.

147 countries have legislated for paid maternity leave. These are some of them:

Argentina, 90 days, 100% of earnings paid by Social Security;
Botswana, 12 weeks, 25% of earnings paid by Employer;
Brazil, 120 days, 100% of earnings paid by Social Security;
Canada, 18 weeks, 55% of earnings paid for 15 weeks paid by Insurance;
France, 16-26 weeks, 100% of earnings paid by Social Security;
Germany, 14 weeks, 100% of earnings paid by SS/employer;
Japan, 14 weeks, 60% of earnings paid by SS/Insurance;
Togo, 14 weeks, 100% of earnings paid by SS/employer;
Ukraine, 126 days, 100% of earnings paid by Social Security;
United Kingdom, 14-18 weeks,90% of earnings paid for 6 weeks, then flat rate paid by Social Security.

Ms Burrow said the women on the Executive were concerned at the Federal Government's refusal to sign or ratify the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

"This Government's inability to stand up on human rights issues is turning Australia into an international pariah," she said.

"We are disgusted by John Howard's refusal to promote the rights of women. This Government is tacitly approving the acts of rogue nations that violate women's rights. Australian women expect more."

The Optional Protocol establishes procedures to promote rights that are guaranteed under CEDAW. At the end of September, 62 nations had signed and 11 nations had ratified the protocol.

Steps along the way to equal representation

The move to equal representation began in 1989 when ACTU Congress established three affirmative action positions. In 1993, a target of 50% women on the Executive was set for within 10 years. The process was complete when more than 700 delegates at the 2000 Congress in Wollongong supported the 50% rule. Since then, unions have nominated women representatives, increasing the Executive members from 50 to 64.

Number of Executive members prior to 50% rule: 50
Percentage of women: 34%
Number of Executive members after 50% rule: 64
Percentage of women: 50%

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  Issue 76 contents

Interview: Withering On The Vine
Cooking shows and 'Bugs fucking to Mozart' may become the staple diet on our ABC as news and current affairs face a war of attrition. Quentin Dempster gives Workers Online an insider's view of our endangered national broadcaster .

US Election: Sugar Candy Politics
Like in everything else, Americans like their politics sugar coated. A Nation in denial, they are happier maintaining the fantasy that the world is a fine and dandy place says Michael Gadiel.

US Election: George W. Bushwhacked by Texas Truth Squad
The Texas Truth Squad are a group of Texan union members travelling the US on a crusade to expose the Republican presidential nominee as a corporate rogue who in his time as Governer proved himself as an enemy of the worker.

History: Federation and the Labour Movement
National celebrations will mark the Centenary of Federation next year. The labour movement's opposition to Federation at the referenda held around the Australian colonies in 1899 will attract less commemoration, although the republicans of 1999 might have benefited from reflection on the causes of working class discontent one hundred years earlier says Stuart Macintyre.

International: Unions Mac Their Day
McDonald's - the biggest employer of young people around the world - is increasingly becoming the target of union recognition campaigns, backed by human rights groups concerned about the fast food chains practices in countries such as Indonesia, China, Russia, Canada and Germany.

Satire: Wiranto�s charity album inspires genocidal maniacs everywhere
Indonesia�s favourite former strongman, General Wiranto, has recently decided to record an album of love songs. Entitled To You My Indonesia, Wiranto�s album has already sold 8,000 copies and is raising money for refugees.

Review: What About the Workers?
A big, gruff bloke in a blue singlet, on strike or just not working, and generally being difficult. That's the trade unionist for you. Barry Cohen's new book What About the Workers? shows this image may have a bit of truth about it, but he would be telling a few good yarns while he was standing about.

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