FILM BENEFIT NIGHT FOR TIMOR-LESTE’S WORKING WOMEN’S CENTRE 29.10.2014

Australia East Timor Friendship Association, SA Unions, the SA Working Women’s Centre & the APHEDA Union Aid Abroad Activist Group SA invite you to:

A FILM BENEFIT NIGHT

FOR TIMOR-LESTE’S WORKING WOMEN’S CENTRE

SEE THE FILM:

PRIDE [Rated M]
starring Bill Nighy & Imelda Staunton

Wednesday 29 OCTOBER 2014

5.30pm: Drinks & Nibbles

6.45pm: Film

VENUE: CAPRI THEATRE
141 Goodwood Road, Goodwood SA 5034

ADMISSION: Full Wage: $20;    Concession: $15

Tickets are available from:

AETFA: Andy Alcock: Phone: 83710480 Email: andyalcock@internode.on.net

APHEDA: Jan Schultz Phone: 8231 5532 Email: jschultz@sa.cfmeu.asn.au
Please pass this invite along your networks. Hope to see you there!

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PRIDE: ABOUT THE FILM                                                                                                       and  Background on the T-L Working Womens Centre

Based on a true story, the film depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the UK miners’ strike in 1984 during the Thatcher era, at the outset of what would become the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign.

The National Union of Mineworkers was reluctant to accept the group’s support due to the union’s public relations’ worries about being openly associated with a gay group, so the activists instead decided to take their donations directly to a small mining village in Wales resulting in an alliance between the two communities.

As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all. The alliance was unlike anything seen before but was successful.

The film is described as a ‘rousing British crowd-pleaser’ in the spirit of of Billy Elliott, The Full Monty and Brassed Off. It has been so popular in Britain that it is likely to become a stage play.

It features Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Andrew Scott, Dominic West and Paddy Considine in a large cast.

You can view the trailer on the following website:

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BACKGROUND ON THE T-L WORKING WOMEN’S CENTRE

In September 2011, APHEDA Union Aid Abroad was proud to help launch the Working Women’s Centre Timor-Leste – the first dedicated service for women to better access their employment rights and combat gender violence in the workplace in Timor-Leste.

The South Australian Working Women’s Centre is playing an important role in helping to establish this Centre.

The Timor Leste Working Women’s Centre educates and advocates on behalf of Timorese working women, including vulnerable domestic workers, free of charge.

Women of Timor-Leste have long held traditional roles in the home and many women are now seeking employment to help lift themselves and their families from chronic poverty. Timor-Leste is the poorest country in our region due to the illegal occupation by the Indonesian military, which was responsible for wiping out up to 1/3rd of the population, committing gross human rights abuses and destroying 80% of the country’s infrastructure

About two-thirds of adult women have never attended school and employment opportunities for those without a formal education are limited.

Most of the work available to women in Timor-Leste is characterised by ‘informal’ workplace arrangements. Jobs are paid cash in hand, without negotiation on fair wages or conditions, such as working hours and basic leave entitlements.

Income can vary from $US 35 – $US 130 per month. The basic wage is set at $US 115 per month.

In addition, women in informal work are unable to access existing or proposed Timorese social security schemes, and with an absence of occupational health and safety standards, some women are experiencing bullying, violence, sexual harassment and other forms of coercion.

Recently, the T-L WWC won an important victory for women working for an Indonesian employer. They received 30 months back pay.

The Centre needs your support so that it can continue to provide its excellent services to the working women of Timor Leste.

More details can be found on the APHEDA website:

http://www.apheda.org.au/news/1339482027_5810.html