October is Women’s History Month

Statement from Melissa Marsman, Secretary-Treasurer

October is Women’s History Month in Canada, and it’s a time to honour the struggles, victories, and leadership of women who have shaped our country. It’s also a time to remind ourselves that the fight for equality is not over. From the first women who organized in their workplaces and communities, to the trailblazers who broke down political, social, and economic barriers, women have always been at the heart of building a fairer country and province.

In Nova Scotia, women activists, union leaders, and community organizers have carried forward this work for generations. We celebrate their courage and their vision. This year’s theme for Women’s History Month is a call to remember that progress doesn’t happen on its own. It happens because women have stood together, spoken out, and refused to accept inequality. From winning the right to vote to demanding equal pay to fighting for maternity and parental leave, women have always had to push hard for rights that should never have been denied in the first place. Unions have been central in this fight.

Collective agreements have helped secure stronger pay equity measures, family leave, workplace harassment protections, and fairer benefits. These gains improve the lives of all workers, not just women. But we know that women, especially racialized women, Indigenous women, women with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, still face barriers on the job and in society. Gender-based violence, the pay gap, and the lack of affordable childcare continue to hold women back. As we mark Women’s History Month, we must not only celebrate past achievements but also commit to the work ahead.

Governments must invest in universal childcare, strengthen pay equity laws, and take real steps to end violence against women. We are also calling on employers to step up by closing the wage gap, promoting women to leadership positions, and ensuring safe and respectful workplaces. For unions, the path forward is clear. We will continue to fight for equality at the bargaining table, on the picket line, and in the legislature. We will continue to lift women’s voices and demand a society where no one is left behind. As we head into our convention, let’s reflect and also take action. Let’s honour the women who came before us by carrying their work forward. Let’s build a Country, a province and a central labour body in our province where every woman can live and work with fairness, safety, and dignity.