VOLUME 24 — AUGUST 2023
The Maritime Worker Te Whanganui-a-Tara NEWSLETTER OF THE WELLINGTON BRANCH OF THE MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND
FIRE IN MY BELLY
WOMENS CONFERENCE By Fiona Mansell MUNZ National Women’s Rep
Organising for our Future
Firstly, thanks to all the Branches and National Office for their support in sending 16 women to another amazing CTU In a world where gender Women’s Conference. The theme this equality and workplace rights year was Fire in my belly: Organising for are essential, it is vital to our future! A theme that excited all recognize and celebrate the women who attended. the immense contribuThis was my fourth CTU tions of women in the labour Women’s Conference since movement. 2017, and I must say every This conference aims conference just gets better to ignite the fire within with every new theme. I women unionists and would like to express my activists, equipping gratitude and appreciathem with the tools, tion to all the organisers, knowledge, and inspithe Women’s Council and ration to shape a brighter CTU for all their hard work future for all. that goes into making every Through engaging discussions, conference a success. inspiring keynote speakers, and interactive workshops, we explored the unique challenges faced by women in unions and devise strategies to overcome them.
From breaking down barriers to fostering inclusive leadership, we delved into the experiences, triumphs, and aspirations of women unionists, amplifying their voices and empowering them to create meaningful change in their chosen industries. This conference provided a platform for networking and building a strong support system among women unionists. This year like every other year, I got to meet and network with other women and connect with like-minded individuals. We shared stories and forged valuable alliances that will bolster our advocacy efforts and amplified the impact of our work in MUNZ. Fire in my Belly: Organising for our Future is an inclusive and welcoming space that recognizes the intersectionality of women’s experiences in the labour movement. We are blessed to be invited to this forum so that we are able to harness the power of collective action, ignite the f lames of change, and pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive future for women unionists and workers worldwide. Together, we will shape our future, and our fire will illuminate the path ahead. Keynote speakers included women from different sectors. Tory Whanau was our first guest speaker, her discussions around the difficulties that women face in leadership roles left an impression on me that will last a lifetime, especially that she is the first wahine Māori to become the Mayor of Wellington. A not her g uest s pea ker wa s Saunoamaali’I Dr Karanina Sumeo who is the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner (EEOC). Continued on following page