3 April 2006
Unions serious about women’s participation
Unions are serious about wanting to increase women’s participation in the trade union movement, CTU Secretary Carol
Beaumont said today.
“While New Zealand women do have strong levels of union membership and are well represented on delegates structures, we
want to also ensure that they are well represented in decision- making and leadership positions,” said Carol Beaumont.
“The census on women’s participation was a valuable tool for the CTU Women’s Council,” said Carol Beaumont. “Our goal in
participating in this research was to increase the involvement of women in all levels of the union movement, and the
results will allow the Women’s Council to more effectively work with unions to raise gender issues around leadership and
governance,” said Carol Beaumont.
“Unions are campaigning and organising around a number of issues facing working women, including low pay, childcare,
fair workloads, parental leave, and health and safety and equity of opportunity.
“These are all issues for women and these are all issues for unions,” said Carol Beaumont.
“The CTU is taking part in a global campaign, through the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, to increase
the participation of women in unions and in union leadership positions. It is a challenge that the union movement in New
Zealand has embraced and we are proud of New Zealand unions’ response to this challenge” said Carol Beaumont.
ENDS