International Women’s Day recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women in society and the need for gender equity. PSAC Ontario honours the women who have built our union, strengthened our workplaces and shaped the public services people rely on.
Sadly, we are seeing some of those gains being rolled back with the federal government’s attack on the public service. Women make up 57 per cent of the federal public service. Under the 2025 Federal Budget, nearly 59 per cent of the projected 40,000 job cuts will fall on them. The deepest cuts are in departments predominantly staffed by women, who deliver essential services families depend on, like employment insurance, pensions, childcare supports, public health and social services.
When public service jobs are cut, the consequences are immediate. Wait times grow. Benefits are delayed, and communities lose access to critical supports.
Provincially we are also seeing austerity measures implemented, including with the recent announcement of cuts to OSAP grants by the Ford government. Divesting and privatizing public programs in education, healthcare, and services disproportionately impact women and marginalized communities.
In the face of these challenges, women across the labour movement continue to organize, advocate and lead with resilience and determination.
This International Women’s Day, let us recommit to defending the hard-won gains of the past and build a more equitable future for generations to come.
In Solidarity,
Craig Reynolds, PSAC Ontario Regional Executive Vice-President