NEHAWU Statement On International Working Women's Day
Tuesday March 08, 2022
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] joins millions of workers around the world in celebrating the International Working Women’s Day, which is celebrated annually on the day, the 8th March.
This year marks 165 years since the historic strike on the 8th March 1857 of female workers in the textile industries of New York, who were demanding better working conditions, equality and life with rights. We pay homage and show appreciation for the achievements of the working class women and in recognition of their economic, political and social contribution in the struggle against capitalist exploitation.
In celebrating this day, first of all we wish to pay our solidarity with working people of Ukraine and Russia who find themselves affected by imperialism war orchestrated by the USA, EU and NATO.
As we celebrate today the International Working Women’s Day, working women are still confronted with struggles for fair remuneration and promotion; equal pay for equal work and work of equal value. Working women are still victimised and sexually harassed at the workplace. They are denied parental rights and childcare facilities. Working women are in a constant struggle against power-relations that continues to be perpetuated by patriarchy. Working women are confronted with the scourge of gender based violence, femicide, rape, and violence which continues to be on the rise.
As we celebrate this day, the national union [NEHAWU] reaffirms its commitment with other progressive forces in the world to fight relentlessly for the liberation of working women against all social ills. We will continue to wage a struggle for women empowerment in our societies, fight for their rights in the workplace, which include amongst others: equal pay for equal work, employment opportunities, 6-months maternity leave…etc.
NEHAWU will place more effort to ensure equality between women and men and to fight for justice for women in the workplace, the labour market and society as a whole. The national union immediately commits itself to intensify its campaign for: awareness and implementation of fair labour and legal rights for women; women representation in higher valued sectors of society including creating formal economy more accessible and attractive to working women and improved and equal wages and salaries for women in the workplace.
NEHAWU’s key message today is calling on the working class and poor to unite in order to ensure that the working class women are not marginalised by elitist conceptions of broader social ills and commit to pursue genuine gender struggles at the workplace and society in general.
On this International Working Women's Day, the union is in solidarity with women all over the world in the struggle against capitalist exploitation and oppression.
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968;
December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969;
Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za
Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za