Women

Health

International Women’s Day

Women, Unions and Health Issues

By Sue Hammond
Federal Women's Industrial Officer

International Women's Day began in 1908 and is now a celebration of the strength and courage of women and the gains that they have made in improving their lives and those of their sisters. This year the Public Services International has adopted the issue of Women's Health as its theme for International Women's Day on the 8th March.

Many of us believe that access to a universal good quality public health system is fundamental to the type of society that we want to live in and share in. Unfortunately, access to health care is determined by economic status. This is of course a significant issue for women worldwide.

Women account for 70 per cent of the world's population living in poverty. While more jobs have been created for women much of the increase in employment has been in part-time and casual employment. Many of these jobs have inferior wages and conditions. Globalisation has delivered jobs to women in the third world which are often exploitative, poorly paid and which can be short lived as companies move operations in order to maximize profits and cheapen labour costs. These workers often work in unsafe workplaces and their work is hazardous to their health. In many cases there is no workers compensation scheme or public health system.

In Australia there is little doubt about the link between socio-economic status and health status. Poor health is associated with low income, relatively poor education, being out of the workforce, not speaking English at home and living in a non-metropolitan area. Socio-economic status is particularly relevant to Australian women because women are a higher proportion of low-income earners and are a larger proportion of low-income families. Furthermore poor health often exacerbates the downward spiral of socio-economic status. Studies also indicate that unemployment is harmful to health and is associated with health inequalities. In Australia, older women in particular represent a large proportion of Australians who are not employed - women's health is dependent on their economic status.

Australia's indigenous population experiences disproportionately higher levels of ill health, disease and death rates. In 2001, life expectancy for indigenous women was 63 years compared to 82 years for all Australian women.

Australian women workers still take primary responsibility for the health care of their families and the balance of work and family commitments. Many women are responsible for the health care of dependents and parents. So issues for women of work, family and health are all interrelated. Women who work in unionised workplaces are more likely to have access to better health benefits and conditions of work. Your union has fought over decades for benefits that have a direct impact on women's health issues: paid maternity leave, health and safety regulations, carer's leave, reasonable hours of work and representation rights to name a few.

International bodies such as the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and the International Labour Organisation recognise the right to health as being a basic human right. They impose minimum standards to ensure equitable access to health care on a non-discriminatory basis.

The issue of equity in the provision of health care is important to our members and to women trade unionists. In the 1970s, Australia introduced a universal public health system. Under that system health care was made available regardless of income. In the last decade we have seen an erosion of funding of public health and a re-direction of money into private health care and insurance. Medicare has been slowly dismantled and now rather than providing a universal system the Federal Government's reform agenda is to transform it into nothing more than a safety net. We urge our members on International Women's Day to discuss Medicare and health care issues in your workplace. Raise these issues with local community groups; contact the Medicare Alliance on www.labor.net.au.

While we urge members on International Women's Day to discuss these broader issues of health we also encourage our delegates and members to consider their own personal health and health issues. How long has it been since you underwent a medical examination and important preventive testing? We often remind our members to be active and vigilant in organising their workplace, we now remind you to be vigilant in regard to health matters. We list a few health issues members might consider on International Women's Day.

One of the first women's health issues that springs to mind is Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer in females. You should see your general practitioner if you notice such signs as a lump in the breast, thickening of the breast skin, dimpling of the breast skin or discharge from the nipple. It is important to remember the earlier breast cancer is detected the better the chance of successfully treating it. Ways of detecting breast cancer are by mammography, clinical breast examination and self- breast examination. For further information contact http://www.nbcf.org.au

Cervical cancer is abnormal growth of cells in the cervix. Symptoms of cervical cancer can include unexpected bleeding, discharge or pain. Regular Pap smear tests every two years can pick up early signs of cervical cancer. You can get more information from your general practitioner or Women's Health Nurse - go to website http://www.cervical screen.health.gov.au.

Ovarian Cancer is the fourth most common cancer effecting women. It is less common than breast caner however proportionally more women die from ovarian cancer because it is usually diagnosed in later stages. Symptoms of ovarian cancer are abdominal swelling or bloating, feeling of abdominal fullness, nausea, abdominal pain, low backache, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and pain during intercourse and unexplained weight loss. For more information contact http://cancervic.org.au/cancer/patients/ovarian.htm

Alcohol can also have adverse effects on women's health. Because women tend to be smaller than men they are likely to become intoxicated and reach a higher blood alcohol concentration more quickly. The adverse health effects of heavy drinking can be pregnancy complications, menstrual disorders, liver damage, high blood pressure, ulcers in the stomach, higher risk of breast cancer, inflammation of the pancreas. Alcohol has been linked with higher risks of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature births. Women can drink less alcohol before reaching the legal limit for driving. For further information contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state.

Members and delegates are encouraged to organise a celebration of International Women's Day. It provides a good opportunity to recruit non-members and discuss work/life issues. It also provides a good forum to get together with fellow workers, enjoy their company, talk about the benefits that unionism has achieved for women members and to advance women's rights and welfare.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/women/20040226_Health.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005