I hope that the start of the school year has been successful and promising. Without a doubt, 2019 will be a big year. Thank you for being part of a feminist union, and for the work you do for the QTU and our members. This year our Union is celebrating our 130th anniversary. There is so much to celebrate.
Women branch contacts are encouraged to ensure that they provide a report at each branch meeting, and that this is part of the standing orders of the meeting. Last year, a branch resource was developed to assist with topics (if needed). This will continue to be updated and distributed. Click here to access this document. Please send any contributions/ideas to me.
During the first branch meetings of a QTU Conference year, Life Membership nominations will be considered and discussed. Please be mindful that 76 per cent of our members are women, yet this often isn’t reflected in our nominations for Life Membership. In 2017, of the 17 people who received Life Membership of our great union, only four were women!
Late last year, Sam Pidgeon, the QTU Vice-President and Chair of our Women Teachers and Girls’ Education Committee (WTGEC), resigned from the QTU to to take up her appointment as a Commissioner of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). As only the seventh woman to be appointed as Commissioner in Queensland, and the first union appointment in 19 years, this is a great testament to the respect and authority earned by our previous Vice-President. On behalf of the women of the QTU, I offer our collective congratulations to her and wish her well in her exciting, and important, new role.
L to R - QTU Deputy General Secretary Brendan Crotty, Commissioner Sam Pidgeon, QTU Deputy General Secretary Kate Ruttiman and QTU General Secretary Graham Moloney at the QIRC for Commissioner Pidgeon’s swearing in ceremony.
EB 9
As you would be aware, there is a gender equity component to our EB9 log of claims. You can find it here.
Girls wear shorts too!
From the start of 2019, all Queensland Government schools must provide a distinct shorts and/or pants options for female students, as prescribed by the new dress code policy that was released mid-2018. Does your school comply?
Links to the department’s policy can be found here.
Minister Grace’s Facebook comment on day 1 2019 can be found here.
GUA (Girls Uniform Agenda) updates can be found here.
IWD
International Women’s Day will fast be upon us, on Friday 8 March. I encourage all schools to commemorate this important date, and where appropriate, include students in recognising the achievements of women, often against incredible adversity and challenges.
The Queensland Government will again celebrate Women’s Week (2-10 March), and this year the theme is Invest in women. Invest in the future. You can order free resources (posters, stickers, ribbons) and find really helpful information via this link.
Emma Miller Award
In 2018, our Emma Miller Award recipient was Margie Malezer . Margi’s name has been added to our wonderful new honour board – picture below), which can be found in the foyer of The Teachers’ Building in Milton. Each year the QTU nominates a rank and file woman to receive this prestigious award for her contributions to the membership. The awards are hosted by the Queensland Council of Unions.
National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The QTU has contributed, through our federal peak body, the AEU, to the Australian Human Rights Commission National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. Individuals and organisations are encouraged to make submissions. The deadline has now been extended until the end of February. Please follow the link below for more information.
As your Women’s Officer, I know that sexual harassment is under reported, and often overlooked and dismissed. Especially when sexual harassment from male students is re-labelled as “boys being boys”.
After more than a decade of campaigning by feminists, the start of 2019 saw the removal of the GST from tampons and sanitary pads. Thank you to the many women who filled out petitions and lobbied for these important changes.
Teen Period survey
Rosie, the Victorian Women’s Trust’s harm prevention initiative for young women, has developed a national survey to support its campaign to tackle the taboo of periods faced by teen girls in Australian schools. Please support this important campaign.
“For too long young people have associated their periods with feeling of shame, confusion and secrecy. We want to eliminate the stigma so that we all can feel empowered, supported and proud of our periods.
In order to best support the youth of Australia through their menstrual experiences, we want to hear firsthand from them about the menstrual issues they care about. But to do this we need your help. We've created a Rosie Period Survey for teens aged 12-18. It only takes 5-10 mins to fill out, plus there's some pretty rad prizes up for grabs.
Given your work in the education field, and the return of the school year, we would love it if you could share this survey with your networks.
