Mary-Joe Eaton wiped the tears off her face as she walked through crowds of applauding activists to accept the 2012 Pearl Sawyer Award.
“I will always remember and cherish this moment,” said Mary-Joe, a long-time steward at Kretschmar.
“I want to thank all my sisters and brothers at Local 1000A for this honour. What I do, I do to help others and make a difference, and to be recognized for that leaves me speechless.”
Nominations for this year's Pearl Award are due by May 14. Established in 2005, the Pearl Award is annually presented to a female member for assisting with initatives for women, the labour movement and their community. For more information regarding the award and the criteria, please download the nomination form (PDF).
The Equal Pay Coalition, supported by UFCW Canada Local 1000A, has launched a new pay equity campaign.
Ontario has one of the highest gender pay gaps in the world. Women working in Ontario make 29% less than their male peers. The gender pay gap affects all of us, men and women, and this election is the perfect time to start working together again for a fair Ontario.
Kathleen Baranik’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The Local 1000A member is quiet and soft-spoken and someone who has lived through more challenges than most people face in a lifetime.
