Sep-Oct 2008

Women@Work: Events

MUA appoints women's liaison officer

MUA seafarer Karen Leavy has been appointed as joint women's liaison officer to work from the WA union rooms as of today

Seafarer, national councillor, union activist, mother of two and former pearl diver Karen Leavy has been appointed by the union to work as jnt women's liaison officer alongside Port Botany wharfie Sue Virago.

Karen will work from the WA union rooms every Wednesday promoting women and women's issues in the MUA.

This job was first created in January 2002 and funded by P&O Ports, when Sue Virago took the jnt employer/union funded position before returning to the wharves last year. Sue is still working on women's issues for P&O and the union part time. As well Sue works as an honorary jnt women's liaison officer, MUA national councillor and vice chair of the International Transport Workers' Federation women's committee.

Karen will attend the International Transport Workers' Federation inaugural women seafarers' conference in Rio de Janero and the International Mining and Maritime Conference in LA this year.

"I'm aiming to get women maritime workers to step up and stand alongside the men and get active in the union on workplace and women's issues," she said. "We also aim to recruit more women into the union and onto the wharves and ships."

Sue Virago describes her sister and comrade as a breath of fresh air, totally committed to the cause.

"I'm really looking forward to what we can achieve together for the benefit of all women in the industry," said Sue. "It's a big challenge and it's good to have Kaz on board."

Anyone wishing to contact Karen should contact 0424 352 302 or at the union rooms on Wednesdays tel: 08 9335 0500 or by email kleavy@mua.org.au

For further information

Contact : Maritime Union of Australia
Phone : +61 2 9267 9134
Fax : +61 2 9261 3481
Email : muano@mua.org.au
WWW : http://mua.org.au/

[ All Topics | All Events Articles ]

This page: http://mua.org.au/women/1111555332_24478.html
Last Modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 19:32:49 EST

Site proudly designed and engineered by Social Change Online