Think the fight for women’s rights at work is over, that there has been big progress on equality?

On 6 March, our union hosted a Creating Safe, Respectful Workplaces workshop, where IEU members collaborated on gender action plans, identifying key workplace issues affecting women, and exploring tools to address them.

One glance at what they said during the session is a major reality check.

“Working in boys schools, we’re seeing a new pack mentality of the boys emboldened by the Trump era.”
“Social media is feeding the boys an algorithm of misogyny.”
“It’s demoralising when male teachers brush it under the mat when we’re gaslit when confronting difficult behaviours.”
“Women feel they need to adopt masculine energy or be treated as less.”
“Some male students carry a sexist internal aggression.”
“It needs to be a whole community approach… It cannot just be left to be us; the male teachers need to also do more than make token gestures.”
“I’m starting to lose confidence - I’ve been called ‘hysterical’ when calling out poor behaviours.”
“Senior men solving the issue in a masculine, dominant way reinforces the issue it does not empower women.”
“It drags me down managing this stuff; it interrupts my ability to prepare and do what I love which is teaching.”

Malignant sexism remains entrenched in classrooms, fuelled by social media "manfluencers." Despite gains made on pay and workplace discrimination, we need a renewed commitment for women’s rights. Every generation needs education on human rights, decency, bullying, and violence—this is no time for complacency.

The IEU’s International Women’s Day 2025

The Creating Safe, Respectful Workplaces workshop was part of a flurry of activity surrounding International Women’s Day (IWD), 8 March, in Victoria and Tasmania.

In Melbourne, IEU members gathered at Trades Hall in Carlton for the workshop, using the Women’s Rights at Work (WRAW) chat model to discuss what is good and not so good about their workplaces in 2025.

They explored ways to drive change, including leveraging new laws on flexible work and leave, employers' duty to prevent workplace harassment, and using Health and Safety regulations to address gendered violence.

RMIT education students joined the group in the second half of the day, giving participants a chance to practice running a WRAW chat. Members enjoyed being in the wonderful surrounds of Trades Hall (the ‘mothership’ for Victorian workers) and paid homage to our sister Zelda D’Aprano, who fought so hard for workplace equality.

Members finished the day making placards to take along to the IWD rally in Melbourne, then walked down from Trades Hall to march with comrades, sisters and allies to mark IWD 2025.

IEU initiatives to combat sexism

The IEU recommends members organise a WRAW Chat in their workplace. These forums help women and gender-diverse members affected by inequity and gender violence develop action plans, ensuring employers meet obligations for a safe, equitable, and harassment-free workplace.

Training opportunities that fit the lives of working women, especially those with parental responsibilities, are also vital. In an industry dominated by women, there needs to be far more representation at the top. The Anna Stewart Memorial Program offers women unionists a great opportunity to learn more about unionism and activism.

The union movement is also striving for better Reproductive Health Leave to help address the discrimination and economic disadvantage around reproductive health issues.

National policy initiatives

Veronica Yewdall, Assistant Secretary of the IEUA says, “While there is still much to do to deliver a fairer and safer community for women and girls, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the many gains won in recent years”.

“In this federal election year, IEU members will be looking to political candidates who are committed to protect hard-won gender reforms, and who are prepared to continue the fight for equality.”

Multi-employer bargaining and ECEC reform

Three days guaranteed early childhood education and care (ECEC) per week is a major step towards the policy objective of universal ECEC. Union campaigns for competitive salaries, manageable workloads and quality professional development remain vital to rebuilding a sustainable ECEC workforce.

Multi-employer bargaining for feminised sectors like ECEC and a 15% pay rise for long day care workers were delivered by union action. Improved pay and conditions in feminised sectors like education are directly linked to feminised union growth, and are the future of the union movement.

The gender pay gap is finally narrowing

Improvements in gender pay reported in this week’s WGEA gender equality scorecard are in no small part due to new union-won workplace rights and the federal Labor government’s wage reforms. These workplace rights must be protected at this year’s federal election if we are going to continue to narrow the gender pay gap. Superannuation now paid on government funded parental leave will also help address equality and dignity in retirement for working women.

Domestic and family violence

The IEU was one of the first unions to secure domestic and family violence leave through collective bargaining. New federal government funding for emergency payments will help save lives.

Right to disconnect from work laws

Right to disconnect from work outside normal hours followed union campaigns to Close The Loopholes. This is an important win for women IEU members striving for a healthier work-life balance.

For the IEU, International Women’s Day is the focus of a suite of events aimed to inspire action on women’s rights, including the Creating Safe, Respectful Workplaces workshop which exposed that there is much still to do in our classrooms to make them safe and fair for all.

IEU women offer a reality check on sexism