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MemberBENEFITSSave on everyday itemsAEU members can now save 5% when buying Coles and Woolworths giftcards with Union Shopper.The deal means members can save on everyday items such as groceries,petrol and electronics by paying for the weekly shop using gift cards boughtthrough Union Shopper.Gift cards are available in denominations up to $500. There is no limit onhow many gift cards you can purchase, making it possible to save hundredsof dollars on everyday expenses.Union Shopper uses the combined purchasing power of Australia’s twomillion union members to get the best deals. As well as finding the cheapestpossible price for goods and services on the market, it offers an increasingnumber of special deals.AEU members can sign up for a monthly e-news and check the UnionShopper website regularly to stay informed about the latest offers. UnionShopper membership is free to all union members; simply go to the UnionShopper website to register your union membership details to start saving.To purchase gift cards, download the order form from the Union Shopperwebsite at www.unionshopper.com.au/giftcard. Please note that creditcard purchases incur a 1% surcharge. ◆Women’s FOCUSBarb Jennings Women’s officerMISOGYNY?Sure looks like itWhile our first female PM introducesnation-changing legislation, opponentsplay the woman, not the ball.AS FORMER Prime Minister Paul Keating pointed out recently, the CarbonPollution Tax is an example of good government and leadership in acrucial area — not poll-driven policy but true reform.The evidence is clear that we need to move to renewable, clean energy.The AEU believes that this is union business: jobs will change as climatechange is tackled and new skills and knowledge will need to be developed.In my view, Julia Gillard, our PM, has shown leadership in her negotiationswith Greens and Independents and in her framing of this measure. Women— especially part-time workers — will be the big winners here throughchanges to the taxation system that accompany the carbon price.By raising the tax-free threshold, one million workers will not pay tax.Most of them will be women.Add this to paid maternity leave and the Federal Government’s FairWork Act which allowed pay equity to be addressed — and its recentannouncement that it will fund the outcome of the case — and you start tosee a government of great benefit to women and listening to their concerns.I’m not going to mention some of the Federal Government’s educationpolicies, which are disappointing at best.Most of the media have consistently denigrated the PM. But theirtreatment of her and of the serious issues addressed by the carbon pricehas been even more unacceptable and misogynist.Young women observing this treatment could be forgiven for decidingthat they won’t aspire to leadership if this is what awaits them. It’s adisgrace and it has to stop.Supporting victims of violenceMembers might remember a survey on domestic violence we sent outrecently. Thank you to all who answered it; to those who haven’t yet, pleasego to tinyurl.com/3crcvjt. The survey is gathering important information.The AEU is one of the unions leading the way in building workplacesupport for survivors of domestic violence (DV). Horrifyingly, violenceagainst women causes more death and disability globally than cancer,malaria, traffic injuries and war put together.We have included the need for paid leave for DV survivors in our schoolslog. Research shows that an ongoing connection to the workplace makesit more likely that women (and they are mainly women) will leave a violentsituation.That stability, income and contact would help women to keep theirconfidence and sense of self more intact. Paid leave would enable doctor’svisits, court appearances and time to deal with a difficult situation. It couldbe accessed with proof of need and full confidentiality would have to bemaintained.Let us know your thoughts on this issue. ◆inside the AEUwww.aeuvic.asn.au 23