On International Women’s Day (8th March) we sisters should take the time to celebrate and learn about our history, in our union and the wider historical struggle for equality.
This year: the theme for the day is #BreakTheBias and women in our industry know only too well the biases, prejudices and stereotypes that still remain in our industry.
As we’ve seen only too recently in popular culture the term ‘fireman’ still being utilised despite it being an anachronism abolished in the 80s. The Love Island 2019 series put on a task of a “sexy fireman” recusing the “damsel in distress”, yes in 2019! But despite it being a seemingly tongue-in-cheek activity on a popular TV show, it symbolises the long way we still have to go in tackling bigoted and arcane biases.
The FBU’s National Women’s Committee (NWC) is steadfast in our belief that equality is a trade union principle and it is an FBU priority. We are committed to fighting for the interests of women firefighters and emergency fire control staff.
We are demanding equality for women after Covid
The pandemic only revealed and exemplified the existing discriminatory structures that women experience every day. Women on the frontline were disproportionately represented in the service sector, and hugely affected by the pandemic. While shouldering the overwhelming burden of childcare and home-schooling, women worked through the pandemic in their homes and workplaces.
That is why a delegation from the FBU will be attending Labour Party Women’s Conference 2022 on 19-20 March. Each year Labour’s National Annual Women’s Conference brings together hundreds of Labour activists and trade unionist women, from across the country. The FBU will be submitting a motion on the subject of women’s equality after Covid to ensure that firefighters’ voices are heard on this integral subject.
As trade unionists, we believe that the draconian anti-trade union laws stop us from being able to organise and they hinder the democratic voices we have in our workplace. This is why our motion included the demand to repeal ALL anti-trade union laws, we mustn’t just settle for a repeal of the Trade Union 2016 Act – 2015 was not a workers’ paradise!
FBU delegates to LPWC22 will fight to ensure women firefighter’s voices are heard. We look forward to updating you about the conference.
We hope that all fire stations will mark International Women’s Day by discussing this year’s theme of #BreakTheBias. – we must never settle for the status quo, we must strive and ensure equality for women.
