Born out of the trade union movement in 1911, International Women’s Day originated as International Working Women’s Day. The ETU celebrates the ETU women working in the electrical trades, and back them in as we all push harder for better.
This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is ‘Give to Gain’, and ETU women know that is core union business. Whether it’s about being on strike and giving up pay, or spending hours at union meetings and giving up time, union women know that to gain better conditions and better pay, ‘giving’ and collaborating is a requirement.
In 1910, when they first proposed an International Women’s Day, it was not to be celebrated on the 8th of March, instead to commemorate a strike women working in the Garment Industry in the US made in 1909, in which 20,000 workers went on strike for 11 weeks. International Women’s Day came from union women, and it will be union women who keep pushing the line for better.
Right now, it has never been more crucial for women to join the electrical trades.
Australia needs more sparkies to build the energy transition and power this country.
We need to attract more apprentices to reach our goals, and we can’t just focus on 50% of the population.
We know there are barriers for women working in our trades. The barriers can include workplace culture, lack of appropriate facilities at worksites and PPE that doesn’t fit women’s bodies. ETU members know we have to all work together to remove these barriers so it’s easier for a more diverse population to become members of the electrical trades and of course to become members of the ETU. And the ETU keeps on fighting – we will never give up.
Whether it’s the ETU’s NOWHERE TO GO Campaign, rolling out The Big Sister Project with our project partners or fighting for better every day at work and in our communities, the future is bright with the women of the ETU are leading and lighting the way for more and more women to join our crucial trades.
Congratulations to the dedicated, passionate, and powerful women of the ETU and happy International Working Women’s Day.