Secretary-Treasurer Henson's Message on Women's History Month

Designed by Freepik

As we commemorate Women’s History Month, this is an opportunity for us to recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of women everywhere, especially the working women in our union and the broader labor movement. 

As the Secretary-Treasurer of IFPTE, I am proud of the diverse voices and perspectives within our union. Your dedication, passion, and hard work are integral to the advancement of women’s equity and the success of our union. Whether it's advocating for better working conditions or championing social justice causes, the issues we stand for contribute to a fairer and more inclusive society for all, particularly those historically marginalized due to race, ethnicity, gender identity, class, disability, and citizenship. 

On International Women’s Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to supporting and empowering women within our ranks. I am inspired by all the women leaders that I work with regularly, our members, elected leaders, and staff. Special recognition goes to the women serving on the IFPTE Women’s Solidarity Network (WSN) who work hard to keep the discussion of gender justice active in our union. I encourage you to engage with and support the WSN by participating in their initiatives. 

I also find reassurance in the strong leadership guiding our movement, with Bea Bruske as President of the Canadian Labour Congress and Liz Shuler as President of the American Federation of Labour. As women at the forefront of advocating for working people, I am honored to stand alongside them and remain optimistic about our collective future. 

If you're interested in hearing more, I share my thoughts about this on America’s Work Force Union Podcast, airing on March 8 coinciding with International Women’s Day! You can listen to the podcast here.

As we mark this significant occasion in the USA, we are also observing Women’s History Month throughout March, let us amplify women’s voices and continue to break ground by making more gains that will close the gender equity gap. 

In Solidarity, 

Gay Henson
Secretary-Treasurer
International Federation of Professional and Professionals Engineers