Women Will Rise! Recalling the Working Women’s Charter

It's over 40 years since the Working Women's Charter was adopted as policy by the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The 16-clause Charter demanded rights for women in all aspects of life and work, including equal pay; ending discrimination; education and health rights; improved working conditions; quality child care; family and parental leave, and reproductive rights. But persuading the male-dominated trade union movement to adopt the Charter wasn't an easy job.

A panel of authors from the book Women Will Rise will trace the earlier working women's charters in New Zealand, and the work and organising done by trade union women and their supporters to achieve the Charter. Finally, a feminist historian of the generation following the 1970s Charter women reflects on their work. Songs from the period are included.

The speakers are among 11 co-authors of the book Women Will Rise! Recalling the Working Women's Charter:

• Sue Kedgley is a women’s advocate, author of a recent memoir Fifty Years a Feminist, and a former Green MP.
• Hazel Armstrong worked for women's liberation and unions. She is a lawyer specialising in health, safety and ACC work.
• Therese O'Connell has been active (and singing) in unions and other social justice movements.
• Grace Millar is a feminist, unionist and historian, currently working for the Public Service Association.

These monthly Public History Talks are a collaboration between the Alexander Turnbull Library and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Recorded live on 3 October 2021.

Download a transcript of this talk:
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/files/pdfs/transcript-women-will-rise-2022.pdf