Luba Grigorovitch 
Branch Secretary
Once again, International Women’s Day is upon us and I’m sure in 2019 it will be just as festive and action packed as previous years!
The week of International Women’s Day will begin with a Feminist Movie Night screening on Tuesday 5 March. All members are invited to the movie night.
The cost of the movie night is a $10 door entry fee that includes dinner, a beanbag to watch the movie from, popcorn and choc tops and is shared with our sisters from the CFMEU, ETU & MUA. For anyone interested in attending, contact Hannah Scott on 0448 569 178 or hannah.scott@rtbuvic.com.au
I am also proud to announce that for the ninth year in a row our RTBU International Women’s Day Conference will once again be held.
Each year, the conference brings together women and men from across the public transport industry to celebrate the impact women have had by organising in our industry.
Members from all Divisions of the RTBU are invited to join the festivities and attend the conference. This year, the conference is being held on Thursday 7 March at the RTBU Head Office and runs from 10:00am – 2:00pm. It provides opportunity for members to discuss industry wide issues.
The conference is a great opportunity for members from all across Rail and Tram to come together and celebrate some great achievements in the movement. In male dominated industries such as ours, women’s voices are often lost. This is why RTBU Women encourages all women to be more active and find your voice and speak out.
At the conference, there will be a CEO panel with the CEOs of all of our major operators (Metro, V/Line, Yarra Trams & PTV) in attendance. The CEO panel includes question time with the CEOs and is a great opportunity for RTBU Women to raise issues with their CEO directly.
The agenda for the day also includes a workshop from the Victorian Trades Hall Council We are Union Women (WAUW) team on confidence building and networking which I am sure will be a great workshop for RTBU women.
Similar to previous years, we have a commitment from Metro, V/Line and Yarra Trams that all women who are interested in attending will be offered the opportunity to be booked off pending operational requirements.
If you wish to attend the conference, please email Hannah Scott at women@rtbuvic.com.au ASAP so your release can be requested by the company.
International Women’s Day (IWD) this year falls on Friday 8 March 2019. It is celebrated annually and recognises the achievements of women in the union movement and across the world. Women over many decades and centuries have fought long and hard for the conditions which we have today, however the fight is never over.
As part of International Women’s Day, the RTBU will march in the IWD rally. I would like to encourage all members to join us on Friday 8 March.
Any members wishing to walk in the rally are asked to meet at the RTBU Office at 5pm.
Please take this opportunity to get involved in the festivities of IWD. I look forward to seeing you at some of the events.
