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28 January 2008 Cinzia Sechi (ETUC) . ETUC SURVEY: “Extending equality: Trade union actions to organise and promote equal rights, respect and dignity for workers regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity”. Outline. ▲ Background ▲ Context
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28 January 2008 Cinzia Sechi (ETUC) ETUC SURVEY:“Extending equality: Trade union actions to organise and promote equal rights, respect and dignity for workers regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity”
Outline • ▲ Background • ▲ Context • ▲ Trade unions’ policies, bodies, activities • ▲ Good practices • ▲ Main trends • ▲ Recommendations for ETUC
Background • ▲ETUC Manifesto(Seville Congress, May 2007) • ▲EC Project adoption and financing(June 2007) • Steering committee with unions' and ILGA-Europe representatives • Survey launched to ETUC members (Nov-Dec 2007) • 44 trade union organisations replied from 21 EU countries
Sexual orientation is one of the non-discrimination grounds prohibited by EU law. In your opinion, how much awareness of non discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is perceived in the following groups:
Sexual orientation is one of the non-discrimination grounds prohibited by EU law. In your opinion, how much awareness of non discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is perceived in the following groups:
How easy or difficult is it to discuss discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation / gender identity:
Observations regarding sexual orientation Positive Negative ▼ Sexual orientation not prompted into trade unions’ discrimination policies ▼ Prejudices, cultural and religious barriers still strong ▼ Not sufficiently trigged down to membership level • ▲ Half of trade unions responding have been active for more than 10 years • ▲Many unions aware of existing legislative framework • ▲High awareness at unions' leadership level
Observations regarding gender identity Positive Negative ▼The issue of GI only came onto the trade union agenda several years after LGB issues. There remains much ignorance ▼Concept not easily understood and sometimes confused with the notion of gender equality ▼ Difficult for members to see need / points for action • ▼None recorded
Some good practices ▲LGBT groups specifically dealing with LGBT issues●Ver.di (DE), CGSLB (BE), ICTU (IE), ABVAKABO (NL), CCOO Ensenanza (ES), TUC, ASLEF (UK)▲Unions' Website pages on discriminations based on sexual orientation and gender identity●UGT-P, UNISON (UK)▲ LGBT newsletter, recruitment leaflets specifically for LGBT workers ●UNISON, ASLEF (UK), ABVAKABO (NL), VER.DI (DE)▲Putting in place a blog on LGBT issues ●CCOO Ensenanza (ES), ATL (UK)
Some good practices ▲Charter on diversity adopted in the bank sector; CGSLB diversity plan●CGSLB (BE)▲ Training on sexual orientation anti-discrimination legislation ●UATUC (HR), SAK (FI), UNISON, PROSPECT (UK), ABVAKABO (NL)▲Training to include LGBT issues into collective agreements●LPSK (LT), UNISON (UK)▲Publications on anti-discrimination laws ●CITUB (BG), CGIL (IT)
Trends that emerge from the questionnaire ▼Gaps between those unions that have a long time involvement in LGBT issues and those that have started recently;▼Most respondents from confederations not aware of their unions’ policies/activities on LGBT issues;▼Trade unions’ surveys on LGBT issues almost non- existent;▼Unions based in some “new” member states seems to be less active;▲The legal aspect of these discrimination on the upfront▼Less is being done on awareness raising;▲Sometrade unions have developed a variety of instruments and tools to help workers in dealing with LGB issues;▲Unions most active on LGBT issues often show strong links with NGOs
Support required from ETUC ▲More help (information and training) on how to work as a trade union with these issues (ie produce an EU trade union guide on LGBT issues)▲Promote an exchange info & good practices among its members (websites, networks, campaigns, etc.)▲Be more active on these issues (lobby European Parliament, European Commission, national trade union leadership)