Keeping trade union women’s structure active and effective

1. THE 13th INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION WOMEN'S SCHOOL of the ITUC/PERC CEE&NIS Women’s Network Keeping trade union women’s structure active and effective Some ideas Agnieszka Ghinararu

2. How to keep your structure active? • ensure that women get involved and stay involved • identify some goals and activities for your structure – planning • Some ideas what trade union women’s structure can do • make sure that women’s structure functions effectively

3. To ensure that women get involved and stay involved, you should (1): • Make your meetings interesting and productive • Prepare clear agenda for each meeting • Invite guest speakers to your meetings • Share information about the work of the structure through the available trade union media - it can be a part of your gender awareness campaign reaching both women and men;

4. To ensure that women get involved and stay involved, you should (2): • Target right people on relevant issues; • Prepare a flyer about the structure for distribution • Make presentation, for both women and men, about the structure work at different trade union events, meetings, etc. • Hold a yearly social event in order to recognize and to thank everyone for their contribution to the success of the structure; • you can invite trade union leaders of your organisation to take part to some of your events.

5. Identifying some goals and activities for your structure (1): • once a year do some planning because it will provide a focus for your activities and it will motivate your structure • Develop a one year work planMake sure that you have: • a list of concrete tasks; • which are assigned to concrete person(s); • and that you have clear time frame (starting and end date)

6. Identifying some goals and activities for your structure (2): • Survey your members – it will help you develop your priorities • Check your collective agreement from gender equality point of view – are the interests of women well covered there? What is missing? • Organise educational courses related to women’s issues • Organise events around important dates for women

7. Some ideas what trade union women’s structure can do (1) • Provide a safe environment for women to discuss current workplace, community or personal issues and strategies for change. • Educate women on their rights, obligations and responsibilities to themselves and other women. • Educate and work with the male activists and members on understanding women’s issues and perspective. • Provide advice and guidance to the leadership on issues important to women.

8. Some ideas what trade union women’s structure can do (2) • Network and communicate with women in trade unions and in community and national organisations. • Research and present policies. • Lobby for legislative improvements and change. • Encourage the development of more women’s structures (where not existing). • Act as mentors to young and newly organised women.

9. Some ideas what trade union women’s structure can do (3) • Assist in the planning and organisation of trade union events to ensure the content, speakers and participants reflect the diversity of the union’s membership. • Identify women’s education and training needs to ensure union trainings and programs are accessible and applicable. • Assist the organisers in organising and educating new members, etc.

10. How to make sure that women’s structure functions effectively (1) 1. Adopt some basic rules for your structure, for example: • Only one women speaks at a time • Listening while others speak • Not making personal attacks • Not dominating • Making sure that everyone gets a chance to speak • Respecting the agenda, etc.

11. How to make sure that women’s structure functions effectively (2) 2. Elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson and recording secretary and divide roles and responsibilities, for example: • Chairperson (President): to call meetings and to coordinate the work of the structure; spokesperson, etc. • Vice-chairperson: to assist the Chairperson as required; to chair meetings in the absence of the Chairperson; to perform other duties, etc. • Recording secretary: keeping minutes and records of all meetings; to distribute the minutes; to take care of correspondence; etc.

12. How to make sure that women’s structure functions effectively (3) • Determine how you will store minutes and correspondence • Develop a system of communication: • among the structure’s members and • with the other trade union members, executive of the trade union, etc. • Keep everyone (in the organisation) informed about the work of the women’s structure, you need men support in your work.