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Global Unions’ Organising Campaign. ITUC. Unification: ICFTU - International Confederation of Free Trade Unions WCL - World Confederation of Labour and New affiliates. ITUC. ITUC represents: 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 304 national affiliates.
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ITUC Unification: • ICFTU - International Confederation of Free Trade Unions • WCL - World Confederation of Labour and • New affiliates
ITUC ITUC represents: • 168 million workers in • 153 countries and territories and • has 304 national affiliates
ITUC Mission & Priorities • Promotion and defence of workers’ rights • Global campaigning and advocacy • Priority areas include: • trade union and human rights • economy, society and the workplace • equality and non-discrimination • international solidarity
ITUC • ITUC is governed by World Congress, General Council and an Executive Bureau • Regional structures: Africa, Americas and Asia-Pacific • ITUC cooperates with the ETUC and the new ITUC Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) • Women and Youth Committee
International Cooperation • Global Union Federations and the Global Unions Council • Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) • Observer Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council • International Labour Organisation.
ITUC Departments • Equality Department • Communication and Campaign Department – Youth • Human and Trade union Rights • Economy, society and work
Campaign launched on 8 March 2002
Global facts on women: • 1.1 billion (40%) of the world's 2.8 billion workers today are women • Women represent 60 % of the world's 550 million working poor
25 to 90% of the world labour force are in the informal economy – majority women • Constitute about 80% of the 50 million strong workforce in the export processing zones (EPZs) • Feminisation of migration (48% of the 115 million) and in the most vulnerable jobs
Women at work face discrimination: • lack of maternity protection and child care • sexual harassment • paid between 14 and 60% less than men • Women face higher unemployment rates than men
Objectives Campaign: • Significantly increase trade union women membership • Equality at work: Advocate for women workers rights • Equality in trade unions
Focus groups: • Women workers in the informal economy • Export Processing Zones • Migrant women workers • Young Women
Organizing • Trade unionism: establishing the same workers rights for men and women • Trade unions to give top priority to: • Organising and recruitment - young workers • Trade union recognition and • Negotiating collective agreements
Organizing is more then 1+1: • Communication • Representation • Trade union priorities in policies, negotiations, activities • Trade union structures • Training and education
Overcoming multiple obstacles for women to join and integrate into the unions.
Obstacles related to work: • Restrictions to join a union, • Lack of childcare and maternity protection • Irregular income or jobs
Obstacles related to male attitudes and behaviour: • Dominance of male leadership • Discrimination in trade unions • Moral and sexual harassment.
Obstacles related to lack of information: • What unions are and what they can do for women • Never asked to join a union
Equality at work: • Pay Equity • Maternity and paternity leave • Child care • Shared family responsibilities • no sexual harassment
Key equality Conventions: • Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) • Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), • Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156) and • The Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183).
Equality in trade unions: Equal access to activities, decision making bodies, leadership positions: • Positive action programs - minimum participation of 30% women • Gender parity in trade union delegations
Equality in trade unions: • Gender trade union policies, actions and programs
Unions for Women, Women for Unions 2005 – 1st Assessment of the Campaign Positive impact on • Trade union policies/ programs for women workers • Promotion women workers rights • Increase of women trade union activists and leaders
Unions for Women, Women for Unions 2005 – 1st Assessment of the Campaign Specific Campaigns do result in an increase in women membership rates
Unions for Women, Women for Unions Increase women membership • 40-50%: Spain, Bangladesh • 30%: Australia, Brazil, • 1.5 to 14%: Hungary, Switzerland, Congo, Uganda, Canada.
Unions for Women, Women for Unions Increase women membership: 150%: CGTM Mauretania
Unions for Women, Women for Unions Increase women membership: Tanzania: Women membership went up from 23 to 37%
Increase women membership: FNPR Russia: 2% increasein women membership 58% women membership Unions for Women, Women for Unions
Increase women membership: Dominican Republic: 1500 women members Unions for Women, Women for Unions
Honduras: ICFTU Youth Solidarity Mission - Export Processing Zones Unions for Women, Women for Unions
Honduras: ICFTU Youth Solidarity Mission - Export Processing Zones Unions for Women, Women for Unions
Unions for Women, Women for Unions 8 March 2006: Re-launch of the Campaign 54 National Centres from 46 countries
Unions for Women, Women for Unions • Unions4women – email list • Spotlight interviews • Video/ CD Rom • www.ituc-csi – equality
8 MARCH 2007 – Global Unions International Women’s Day: Maternity Protection 8 March 2006 Unions For Women Women For Unions Action Day