Tomorrow, communities around the globe will celebrate International Women’s Day for the hundredth time and I look forward to taking part in the celebrations. Some of you may be wondering why it’s such a big deal. Women in Australia have it pretty good nowadays don’t they?  There’s no restriction on voting, education or employment, and on average women live longer than men. If only that were all there was to it!

As someone who has been involved in the union movement for most of my life I have always had an understanding of the importance of International Women’s Day and the many programs, such as affirmative action and diversity programs, workplace flexibility and the Anna Stewart memorial program, that the union movement has put in place to advance the position of women. But it wasn’t until I had a daughter that I think I fully understood why events such as International Women’s Day are so important.

I find it completely unacceptable that if both of my kids decided to pursue careers in finance that Hayley stands to earn 28% less than her brother. Our industry should be embarrassed and ashamed of the fact that women, who make up the majority of the workforce, still earn less on average than their male colleagues.

It is fantastic to celebrate the centenary of International Women’s Day and it is right to recognise women who have made, and those who continue to make, enormous contributions to our industry and union.

But I think the best thing that we can do as we reflect on the fact that we have been celebrating International Women’s Day for a hundred years is to look forward and ask ourselves what contribution we will each make in the next twelve months to ensure that our industry genuinely tackles the growing gender pay gap.

I hope that we can all look back in a few years and say that should our daughters, sisters or mothers choose careers in finance they will do so knowing that they will receive the same opportunities and rewards as their male counterparts.

Happy International Women’s Day.

Leon Carter
FSU National Secretary