Did you know?

• Australian women are still not earning equal pay. ABS data shows the Australian gender gap has worsened in recent years.  Most recent figures show females working full-time hours earning 16.3% or $196.00 a week less than males in full time roles.
• Recent research shows that 7 out of every 10 of the $1 trillion or so dollars invested in superannuation accounts is invested in men’s accounts – only 3 in 10 of those dollars are invested in women’s superannuation accounts.
• Women are almost twice as likely to be underemployed than men. Women are over-represented in industries dominated by casual, part-time and low paid employment.
• Women with caring responsibilities are prevented from joining and remaining in the workforce through a lack of family friendly work arrangements. 
• Australia and the United States are the only industrial countries in the world to not have a system of paid maternity leave. 
• Women still face harassment and discrimination in the workforce based on their gender while evidence also shows a lack of promotional opportunities for women.

AMWU National Conference 2008

In July 2008 the AMWU made a strong commitment to the recruitment, retention and promotion of women members through a number of endorsements at National Conference.  Including:

Specific strategies to focus the AMWU on the organising of women into our Union and to increase women’s participation in all aspects of our Union.

A focus on the retention of women in the AMWU as members, activists and delegates and as officials, organisers and officers.  Recognising that this will, of necessity, involve some cultural shift in the AMWU.

There are to be specific women delegates courses.  Along with a focus on education programs for delegates / organisers on issues such as how to organise women workers, how to organise in a diverse workplace and to provide specific skills for delegates and organisers to shift the culture of the AMWU.

Strategies to focus on organising women as members, including: growth indicator targets on the recruitment of women for all organisers, mapping of workplaces to identify women members/non members and activists, whole of workplace organising and the development of strategies for organising women.

Increase the portrayal of women in AMWU publications as a means of promoting the AMWU as a union that is relevant to the interests of women in manufacturing.

All States to take measures to support active organising committees in each State that focus on attracting women to our Union as members, activists and paid officials.

Through the AMWU bargaining agenda, build new employment standards, including: paid maternity / paternity leave, the right to request flexible working arrangements to meet caring responsibilities, promotion of women into apprenticeships and into our union and proportional representation at State Council.

What can YOU do?

Here are five ways you can help impliment the National Conference resolutions:

1.  Ask women to join, including women from all areas of the worksite.

2.  Help elect a woman delegate, women are more likely to join if they see women in leadership roles and potential opportunities.

3.  Use the resourses on this website to promote an inclusive workplace.

4.  Bargain around issues of relevence to women including paid parental leave

5.  If you would like to come to a specific training course for women than please contact your state branch to register your interest.