This Month in
Labour History

International Women’s Day, March 8th

We all know that society is dependent of women, but society has not always allowed women full participation in it. Every step has required women to fight to be recognized and included as equal to men.

1897: Clara Brett Martin became Canada’s first woman lawyer.

1903: Emma Baker became the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from a Canadian university. She earned her degree at the University of Toronto in psychology.

1916: Manitoba granted women the right to vote in provincial elections, the first in Canada.

1918: The vote was extended to “White women” over the age of 21 who were Canadian citizens. It took another 40 years before all women in Canada were granted that right.

1921: Agnes Macphial became the first women elected to Parliament of Canada.

1929: The case was brought before the British Privy Council that resulted in a decision that declared that women are “persons” and could therefore be appointed to the Senate of Canada.

With every victory and recognition, it took women defying sexism by organizing, lobbying, protesting, and taking court action. The right to be treated equally with men was a struggle, including participation in the workplace. However, at times of war, society turned to women, involving them in the war efforts by doing the work traditionally reserved for men.

Prior to the Second World War, women made up only 15% of the workforce. Because of this, unions did not have much involvement by women or interest in organizing women. Employers would often try to recruit women only if it meant they could pay lower wages. However, once women began working, entering the workplace in larger numbers in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, their membership in North American unions doubled.

The women of CUPE have always been at the forefront of the fight for gender justice, be it in collective bargaining, on the picket lines, or political action. The earlier struggles for women’s rights and inclusion used collective power. In unions, women use their collective power to fight for stronger public services, fair wages, and better working conditions. They have also taken leadership roles in the labour movement. Grace Hartman, who worked for the Township of North York, was an active member of CUPE Local 373. In 1975, she became the national president of CUPE. Her election made her the first woman in North America to lead a major labour union. Shirley Carr became active in CUPE Local 113 at the City of Niagara Falls, becoming the first women to lead the Canadian Labour Congress in 1986.

International Women’s Day was established to remember the fight for equality and to inspire us to continue the struggle.

https://exhibits.library.utoronto.ca/exhibits/show/unionbuttonproject/womenandunions