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WOMEN Organising Globally, Building Unions Locally. Diana Holland Chair ITUC Women’s Committee. What has international organisation got to do with me???. Working for a multi-national company Working as a migrant worker Job threatened with outsourcing to another country
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WOMENOrganising Globally, Building Unions Locally Diana Holland Chair ITUC Women’s Committee
What has international organisation got to do with me??? • Working for a multi-national company • Working as a migrant worker • Job threatened with outsourcing to another country • Solidarity wanted for a workplace struggle • Standing up against Anti-union and human rights abuses, violence against women • Union organisation internationally can make the difference
1.2 BILLIONWOMEN IN THE WORLD TODAYARE IN WORK40% of world employment
AND yet, … • Women are 60% of the world’s poor and working poor • Women earn 12-60% less than men co-workers • Over 60% of working women are in “informal” work
Women internationally • A shared agenda • Different priorities eg maternity rights • Longer paid maternity leave in UK • No forced pregnancy test for job in airline in India • Introduction of legal maternity rights in USA • Hiding pregnancy in male-dominated work in South Africa • Recognition and valuing of work women do in all regions of the world • Sisterhood, Solidarity, Support • Inspiration
The ITUC • Represents 168 million workers • 40% of them women • In 55 countries and 4 regions Africas Americas Asia-Pacific Pan-European • Is made up of 311 national affiliates – trade union centres
ITUC Women’s Committee and Conference • Trade union women elected from all regions of the world • Works for gender parity (50:50) in all decision-making and negotiating bodies • Promotes international solidarity between women trade unionists • First ITUC World Women’s Conference October 2009 Brussels
Unions4womenwomen4Unions • ITUC Campaign to organise working women • Targeting women and issues important to women INCREASES MEMBERSHIP RATES BY UP TO 150% • Organising and campaigning together • Discrimination - Maternity - Pay Equity • Childcare - Protection from Sexual Harassment
ITUC Women’s Committee work programme • ITUC Action Programme on achieving Gender Equality in Trade Unions • ITUC Charter Rights of Working Women • Guide on Sexual Harassment • UN Beijing Platform for Action • ILO Gender and Domestic Workers • Action on International Women’s Day • DECENT WORK, DECENT LIFE FOR WOMEN CAMPAIGN
Sororal greetings for International Women’s Day