Opening the third CFMEU National Women’s Conference in Canberra this morning, CFMEU National Secretary Michael O’Connor said that women’s participation in all sectors covered by the Union was about respect and fairness and making those industries better for everyone, for the women and the men who work in those industries.

 “The CFMEU National Women’s Conference marks the start of an important week for the CFMEU, which is 20 years old this year,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The CFMEU took a long time to get going on promoting and supporting women in our industries and our Union, but we are now making up for lost time.

“The importance of the Women’s Committee and the National Women’s Conference to the Union is to make sure there are more women working in our industries, there are more women in our union and in the decision making structures and leadership roles in the Union.   And all three objectives are interrelated. The CFMEU is committed to making sure every industry we work in is not a male dominated industry.

“Male dominated industries are not as productive or fair as they should be,” Mr O’Connor said.

The CFMEU National Women’s Conference spent the day building on discussions and priorities of the previous conferences.  They report back on those discussions to the leadership of the Union later in the day.

“The issues the Women’s Conference put forward will be considered fundamental to the National CFMEU discussion during the remainder of the week,” Mr O’Connor said.  "The Union is also committed to ensuring that change is sustainable."

Listen to women's stories from the construction industry above. Hear more women's comments from the 2011 Women's Committee Conference.