We Are Union Women

Did you know the average union member is a woman?

 

It makes sense, when you consider that women workers face all the industrial issues of our union brothers, plus added discrimination and harassment.

 

The gender pay gap, as at June 2015, is 24.7%. It reflects not only workplace discrimination that holds women back from more senior, better paid roles, but systemic discrimination in the valuation of "caring" work.

 

We Are Union Women is a group of Victorian women workers, activists and officials who organise around the issues facing women in the workforce.

New Campaign Campaigns

  • We need a Sex Discrimination Commissioner now!
    The delay in filling a position which focuses on eliminating sexism, domestic violence and wage inequality has us seriously questioning the priority Mr Turnbull is giving to creating a culture of respect for women. Mr Turnbull has stated that all Australians need to make a cultural shift and stop disrespecting women. He can set an example. He needs to fill this role now through an open, transparent recruitment process. Sign the petition to show Mr Turnbull that he needs to get serious about tackling gender inequality and discrimination in Australia!
    224 of 300 Signatures
    Created by We Are Union Women Picture
  • Scott Morrison: Apologise to Australian Women
    While Scott Morrison thinks it's an achievement for women to not be shot while protesting, women do not feel safe on the streets. Women do not feel safe in their homes. Women do not feel safe in their workplaces. And the terrible thing is – Scott Morrison knows what he needs to do. He has had the Respect@Work report on his desk for 12 months. We need him to immediately implement the recommendations and to make ending sexual harassment in the workplace a national priority.  There is so much that needs to be done to make women in Australia feel safe, but Scott Morrison and the Liberals have repeatedly shown that they do not care about women. He's refused to stand down Christian Porter despite recent allegations. He has failed to support women throughout the pandemic. And now he's saying we should think ourselves lucky that we were not met with bullets in the street.  I am furious and so are women all across Australia. Sign this petition today to tell Scott Morrison that we've had enough!
    18,926 of 20,000 Signatures
    Created by Wil Stracke, Trades Hall
  • Laugh them out of Melbourne
    Melbourne is not a town where rape is tolerated. Melbourne is not a town where sexual assault, physical abuse or emotional manipulation is tolerated. Sign our petition to show your commitment to Melbourne as a safe town and that sexist attitudes just don't cut it here.
    101 of 200 Signatures
    Created by We Are Union Women Picture
  • The Big Sleaze: stop gendered violence at work
    "When I was 15, I was told there's good reason why the branding is across the chest and the crotch. When customers said disgusting things to me, the manager told me to 'take it as a compliment that customers think you're hot." -- Edie WorkSafe is meant to be about the health and safety of all workers, and yet 60% of women workers reported having felt unsafe in their workplace, uncomfortable or at risk. Gendered violence is the violence perpetuated against women because they are women. The violence includes behaviours such as intimidation, put downs and sexual innuendo, through to more visible acts such as sexual assault and rape. Gendered violence is an expression of power inequalities between men and women, resulting in physical, sexual, psychological and economic harm to women. Gendered violence can cause serious physical and psychological harm to women workers, and it’s time for WorkSafe to take this hazard as seriously as any other risk.
    1,109 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Lauren K
  • Gender balance on our boards!
    Women’s representation on government boards is starting to slide again. The Australian Government Boards (Gender Balanced Representation) Bill 2015 requires Government boards to comprise of at least 40 per cent men and 40 per cent women, and provides for annual reporting requirements in relation to the gender composition of Government boards. Aspirational targets are not enough. What we need is a positive obligation that will apply to each appointment to a Government board; this Bill provides this. The public sector, in serving the interests of the Australian community, demands that public sector boardrooms reflect the gender diversity of our community. The government must also provide leadership to the private sector in this area, where gender diversity among company directors and key executive management personnel remains poor. Value women. Pass the Bill now.
    88 of 100 Signatures
    Created by We Are Union Women Picture