Toronto International Women's Day Rally to feature International and Local Speakers

TORONTO, March 3, 2012 /CNW/ - Thousands of women will march on Saturday March 3^rd in Toronto's annual International Women's Day.

The day starts with a rally, held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at OISE, 252 Bloor St West. At 1 p.m., women take to the streets in one of Toronto's most diverse events.

The highlight of today's rally will be a live Skype speech by Egyptian women's rights activist Yara Sallam. "The Arab spring and the growing democracy movements in Egypt are incredibility inspiring for women worldwide. The women of Egypt played a critical role in the protests. We in Toronto want to recognize and celebrate their success," commented Prabha Khosla, an organizer of the rally.

Speakers at OISE will focus on the impact of the City of Toronto cuts on women workers.  "I've received an indefinite layoff notice from my job as a City of Toronto cleaner," said Trish O'Brien, with 10 years of service as a cleaner in a police station. "I have always done a good job. City of Toronto jobs cuts are going to hurt a lot of families, like mine, said Ms. O'Brien.

Maureen O'Reilly from the Toronto Public Library workers added "75% of the library workers are women and more and more library workers are part-time. How can we expect women to support their families without a decent well-paying job?"

Venise Antoine, a single mother of two children, will talk about the challenges of raising a family if the city and the province continue to cut services essential to women's care work responsibilities.

The Workers Action Centre will lead the rally in an action to protest proposed cuts to employment standards.

Andrea Calver, 416-434-8031, Jenny Ahn, 416-271-3489, Maureen O'Reilly, speaker, 647-206-7457