Beating the Drums for International Women's Day

MFL organized activities to commemorate International Women's Day prove popular.

Activities organized by the MFL to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8 began with a class on drum making that was held in the afternoon. The event proved to be very popular and was filled to capacity.

Part two of International Women's Day activities in the Union Centre began at five o'clock when Manitoba Federation of Labour President Darlene Dziewit spoke on the issue of childcare and the efforts of the MFL and others to stop the implementation of Prime Minister Harper's ill-advised child care policy. She also spoke on the overall significance of International Women's Day.

About the MFL Women's Committee

President Dziewit was followed by Christine Melnick, NDP MLA for Riel Constituency. She spoke on what government has done in the area of childcare, and the issues and problems related to the Federal Conservative government's intention to not honour the agreements that the previous Liberal government had signed with Manitoba and other provinces.

Nancy Allen, Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration, spoke next about how changes to the Employment Standards Code are positive changes for women and workers in general. Each of the speakers were presented with "drums" that had been made for them during the drum making class that afternoon. Each Drum had to be blessed with tobacco.

The North End Women's Drum Group then performed for those in attendance and invited the speakers to participate - which they did. The rest of the evening was was an informal opportunity for people mingle and discuss the events and comments of the day.