ate alee ee it oan dattiecnerint Mim hel ee en ee mae Oy Sek ere | eee re SSR SO EE mer ini eenindia’ The Other Press page thirteen by Jill Welch Across North America, working women have had themselves sterilized because it's the only way they can keep their job. This self-sterilization, according to Jeanne Stellman, is the result of highly discriminatory attitudes toward women who work in a toxic environment. Stellman, director of Occupational Health Resource Centre in New York and a union advisor, argues very little research has been done into the effect of toxins, and even less on the effects on the reproductive system of a woman working in a factory or plant where toxic substances are present. She said, in many cases, men can be as affected, if nof more so, by toxins than women. All genes, whether a male's or a female's, are susceptible to chemical alteration and a child is a product of both parents’ genes. As an example, Stellman noted that while women anesthetists have a higher than usual rate of miscarriage so do the wives of male anesthetists. Stellman argued there is strong evidence male transmitted toxins have as deleterious affects on the offspring as toxins carried by the female. Stellman also pointed out dangers to newborn babies from toxins do not stop after pregnancy. “In many ways a newborn child is even more vulnerable after birth than in the womb.” Stellman noted any child in a home which has lead dust (as homes of lead workers have been proven to contain) is in danger, whether that dust was introduced by the mother or the father. To not let women work, to ban them from the _ toxic workplace because of perceived damages to a fetus, is simply not good enough. Industry which bans all women of reproductive age from toxic environments assumes women are liable to unplanned pregnancies, Stellman said. This is simply not true, Stellman said, usually the first child is very carefully planned, especially if both spouses are working. Stellman also pointed out women of reproductive age are banned most often from industries where their work is dispensable. “No one has suggested banning all women of reproductive age, Women's whether they are pregnant or not, from the health care executive © industry (where they are exposed to x-rays). This is simply because without them, there would be no health care industry.” Stellman, who works with American unions’~ and American labour laws, said Canada still has far to go in fighting discriminatory employment practices. In the U.S., women cannot be banned from a toxic workplace unless it can be shown only women are affected, and that all fertile women are affected. In addition the employer must establish that men are not affected and that men and . women. not. of reproductive age are not affected also. In other words, the employer must do extensive research and have very conclusive evidence. Canada is nowhere near as enlightened in this area, Stellman said. Recently Hudson Bay Mining and Manitoba banned women of reproductive age from a toxic work area and offered them only lower paying jobs in another area in the plant. This company policy is not considered illegal. Stellman argues that instead of removing susceptible workers from a toxic workplace, companies should be looking at removing the toxic from the workplace. It’s strange to defend a person's equal right to be _ poisoned, Stellman said. The problem is, as Stellman sees it, “it costs employers money if women workers get pregnant.” But she believes we are a sophisticated enough society to provide adequate maternity benefits for pregnant women, and not force them to work in assembly-line conditions. “Being pregnant is a Dialogue Wednesday, April 9. at 10:30am the Surrey Art Gallery presents Dialogue with Rick Robinson. The public is invited to view the current exhibition and join Gallery volunteer Docents and exhibiting artist Rick Robinson for a discussion of his work over coffee. Ad- mission is free. “Rick. Robinson—Sculp-, ture and Drawings” will be on view in the Gallery from April 4 through May 4. The Surrey Art Gallery is located on 88 Avenue and King George Highway in Bear Creek Park. Gallery hours: 9-4:30 daily; 1-5pm weekends; 7-9:30pm Tues- day and Thursday even- ings. Of course this picture hasnoth a Women and their enviroment -"} } ingto do with this story, ) then, this caption has nothing to do with this picture pain,” Stellman said, but it’s also “a social function.” She suggested, as most pregnancies are planned, pre-pregnancy leaves could be considered so women would ‘clean out their systems to a degree,” as well as post-partum leaves of absence to protect newborn babies. In addition any real protection for offspring must include the father as well as the mother. Stellman laments the fact that problems with birth defects in children, associated with a parent working in a_ toxic environment are almost always associated with a parent working in a toxic environment are almost always associated with the mother. “Scientists working on teratology (study of birth deformities) would like to forget the male role: altogether, if they possibly could get female test animals to produce English as a second Douglas College, Con- tinuing Education Depart- ment, is developing an Employment curriculum for its programs in English as a Second Language (ESL). The program is the college. Employment Orientation (the acquisition of language and information for em- ployment purposes) is particularly vital to the hundreds of Indochinese refugees now enrolled in full-time classes and, or course, to those groups expected to arrive in the coming months. Our job-bound students need exposure to Canadian work situations. We need employers who are willing to help arrange experiences for our students relating to: 1) Looking For Work and 2) Coping on the job Example of the types of involvement we are looking for are: 1) showing small groups of students through offices, plant operations, etc. 2) supplying work-related materials (e.g. sample application forms, union agreements, time sheets, tools, supplies or equip- ment, films, slides) 3) observing specific jobs being performed and/or short-term volunteer work experience. 4) participating in sim- offspring without them.” “Scientists are going to have to discover. it takes two to tango.” “There is not one shred of evidence that exposure to lead causes miscarriages,” Stellman said, “but there is evidence that lead, even at low levels, affects all people.” Stellman advocates that what we know scientifically about toxicity must be reflected in a just labour policy on the workplace. lanquage ulated job — interviews, consultation sessions or as guest resource people in the classroom. Employers interested in participating should call Douglas College, Newton Centre at 591-1111 and leave a message. for Jan Laylin or Scott Glabus.