We need to talk about toilets

15 February 2022

We need to talk about toilets. Imagine being a woman on a powerline or construction worksite and expected to hold on all day or drive 20 minutes off-site because you've got to use the bathroom—and then putting up with the snide comments because you had to go in the first place. It's what Hawkesbury electrical apprentice Alison has experienced, because most of her worksites have limited, if any, toilet facilities. In fact, an ETU report found women in the trades are being expected to either hang on or face unsanitary, unsafe, inaccessible and unsuitable amenities. Women obviously have different bathroom needs at different times of their lives, and not having adequate facilities isn't just a health concern but a barrier to workforce participation. This is also a problem for ageing male tradies. If you've got prostate problems, it can be almost impossible to work on particular sites because of where the bathroom is, or isn't. Alison says she has been caught out many times, either having to hold on or to use toilets she describes as 'disgusting', with no paper, no sanitary bins and no running water or soap. We need national standards, and this has been ignored by the Morrison government, who are not capable of governing. Whether you work in an office or a building site, you have the right to be able to access toilet facilities that are fit for purpose. I fully support Alison and the ETU in demanding this most basic of rights.