Female-orientated union activity in the Latrobe Valley can expect a profile boost, with the appointment of Gippsland Trades and Labour Council’s first female president.
Morwell resident Val Prokopiv, voted into the two-year position at GTLC’s annual general meeting last week, said the Valley’s heavy industrial landscape had given rise to the perception males dominated the local union landscape.
“There’s this perception that union members are all blokes, but actually around half of all union members are women,” Ms Prokopiv said.
“Women have actually struggled more with issue around casualisation of the workforce and have had some very, very difficult times finding family-friendly workplaces.
“There’s no doubt women face different workplace challenges, and hopefully having that female perspective will help me lead the GTLC dealing with those issues.”
Since its reformation 10 years ago, the GTLC, a union body representing workers rights, while advocating for wider job opportunities across Gippsland, has hosted a significant female membership presence, running the Women’s Action Group. “We’ve really always had strong female perspective and a strong representation from female unions, and have a couple of very strong female members,” Ms Prokopiv said.
GTLC secretary John Parker said Ms Prokopiv’s appointment would encourage the grassroots styles of campaigning which traditionally led to social reforms.
“Women are the driving force in social reform at a grassroots level, and Val has been much of the driving force behind the scenes at the GTLC, anything we’ve said intelligently in the past has come from her mind.”
