Women in Transport

November 29, 2018

A September 2018 Australian Human Rights Commission survey found 47% of women in the transport industry reported being sexually harassed in the workplace. 

 

This staggering figure alone should compel us all to take action to change behaviours and workplace cultures that lead to harassment.

 

Last Sunday began 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence. We need to fight to make our industry safer for everyone, and that includes being safe from sexual harassment.

 

The TWU (Vic/Tas Branch) is proud our female membership is growing at a record rate and we are training an increasing number of female delegates and OH&S representatives. 

 

One reason for this increase is trailblazing women are breaking into professions in transport previously closed to females. 

 

The other is that workers’ rights and pay packets are under attack like never before and women are tired of being treated like second-class citizens and, for the first time, joining a union. 

 

In order to assist women achieve real workplace equality, Branch Secretary John Berger recently formed a Women in Transport Committee.  

 

Topics covered at the Committee’s inaugural meeting included, how to amplify women’s voices across the transport industry, workplace respect, job security and promotion. 

 

“We want to help our female members and we will seek to find out how best to do that and include clauses in agreements where we can and work with employers on these issues,” John said. 

 

 

 

The formation of the special Committee follows our highly-successful Women in Transport dinner held on 20 July. 

 

John also recently asked Victorian Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins to write to major transport companies asking them to commit to a special pledge to support gender equality in the workplace. 

 

The Committee is scheduled to next meet in February 2019. 

 

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