GMB celebrate 100th international women's day

8 March 2011

GMB issued a statement for the 100th anniversary of International Women's day on March 8th.

Gillian Whittaker, GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region Equality Officer said "International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some countries it is also celebrated as a national public holiday.

It began as a result of the suffragette movement where Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. International Women's Day honors the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds us all of the of inequalities still to be redressed.

Since the suffragette movement we have witnessed a significant change in theattitudesto women in society, many also would think that the fight for women's rights has also been won and to some extent it would be true. We do have more women in politics and business although not in equal numbers, greater equality in legislative rights; and women have some real choices over how they live their lives. However the fact still remains that women are still not paid the same as men and violence against them is still more widespread than against men.

It is with disgust that the Con – Dem government are denigrating women even more as a result of the public service cuts. Women are more likely to be effected than any other group this is because, more women than men work in the public sector many of whom do low paid and undervalued jobs. Women rely on the public service and benefits more because of pregnancy, caring responsibilities and housing."

Whilst we should remember that IWC is a day of celebrating women's rights and achievements we should also remember that the fight for equality still goes on."

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