“On the Move for Equality”

1. “On the Move for Equality” Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. E. I. 1st WORLD WOMEN’S CONFERENCE AMBASSADOR HOTEL, BANGKOK THAILAND January 2011

2. STATUS OF WOMEN IN TODAY’S WORLD Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. “LINKING THE UNION TO THE COMMUNITY”

3. FORMAT Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Part 1: Traditional Linkages or networks Part 2: Community Unionism Part 3: Action/ Recommendations

4. TRADE UNION (PURPOSES) Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. To secure better working conditions. To improve the economic status of members. To improve the standard of living of members. To secure organizational stability, growth and leadership.

5. COMMUNITIES Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Trade Union is within the community

6. UNIONS LINKING WITH COMMUNITIES? Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. TRADE UNIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILTY TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE SUITABLE FOR MEMBERS WELLBEING AND EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING.

7. KEY AREAS FOR NETWORKING Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. • EDUCATION • ECONOMIC • POLTICAL • HEALTH

8. EDUCATION Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. All women (girls included) must acquire knowledge, skills, values and aptitude. School environment must be conducive to facilitate women’s success and achievement. School programme must enable girls to complete their education /schooling.

9. SLTU AND MOE Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. St Lucia has universal secondary education from 2006 SLTU worked with the Ministry of Education to ensure that all secondary schools have counselors to enable students to succeed and achieve career goals To date there are no barriers which prevent pregnant and young mothers from returning to school.

10. HOWEVER … Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. School drop out rate: ( Over 200 students; 46% females) Curriculum tailored to meet the needs for all students especially girls. Literacy ability of secondary graduates

11. ECONOMIC Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Trade unions must: Use the collective power of all members. Negotiate better and higher wages for workers to sustain their livelihood. Secure better working conditions. Ensure health and safety at the plant. Secure social welfare of members.

12. SLTU Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Ensures that teachers irrespective of gender receive equal pay base on qualification. Ensures that promotion and mobility practices are adhere to. Monitors to ensure that women who qualify are recruited to leadership positions esp. principals and vice principals.

13. ECONOMIC: MATERNITY LEAVE Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Pregnant unmarried teachers are no longer suspended or fired (January 16, 1995) NB: Girard vs the Attorney General-unmarried, pregnant teachers being dismissed after a second pregnancy, Maternity benefits are guaranteed to all teachers including 13 weeks maternity leave with pay, and return to post afterwards.

14. ECONOMIC: CRISIS Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Global economic crisis: SLTU fought the government’s decision to withhold negotiated increase in salary because of the global meltdown. Disaster: Hurricane Tomas devastated St Lucia on October 30, 2010. SLTU assisted in members with humanitarian aid. Assistance was needed to help teachers maintain their self dignity and reliance.

15. POLITICAL Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. “Without progress in the situation of women, there can be no true social development. Human rights are not worthy of the name if they exclude the female half of humanity. The struggle for women’s equality is part of the struggle for a better world for all human beings, and all societies.” Boutros Boutros-Ghali

16. PRINCIPLES Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Women must: rise to positions of power, influence and leadership. occupy leadership positions to chart the course of the union and themselves, as well as influence change. Influence sound decision making. Use our political voice. Vote to influence the process.

17. POWER & DECISION MAKING Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011.

18. LOCAL COMMUNITY: INTERNAL Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Teaching profession: (Over 2000 teachers with 80% females) SLTU Executive: 1 out of 7 SLTU General Council: 33%

19. SLTU PROVISIONS FOR WOMEN Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Formation and presence of committee depends largely on the executive Constitution does not make explicit provisions for the setting of women’s committees. Does not have any specific position on women’s rights. Does not conduct research on women’s issues. Does not network with other unions or NGOs on women’s rights.

20. LOCAL COMMUNITY: SCHOOLS Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Women in school leadership position Principals (secondary schools): 14 out of 24 (58%) (significant increase) Principals (primary schools): 67 out 79 (85%) Private primary & secondary: 7 out of 8 (88%) Access is available to such position of power and influence. SLTU is represented on all interview panels for the post of principals of public schools.

21. UNION Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Ensures leadership that inspires, motivates and empowers. Prepares women for leadership positions and roles. Focus on: leadership training, capacity building, research, lobbying,. Advocate for advancement of women Is there need for a quota system or reserve place??? Address factors which hinder women for vying for leadership positions in the union.

22. HEALTH Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. The health of teachers especially females impact on the quality of their teaching. A number of factors impact on women’s health: stress, reproductive capabilities, work related conditions, etc. For SLTU, a number of female have serious health conditions

23. SLTU ROLE Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Developed and adopted an HIV & AIDS workplace policy. At the forefront of the awareness drive to sensitize and mobilize teachers especially through the EFAIDS programme. Conducted workshop and training for executive, general council, shop stewards and schools. Health workshops especially for female teachers.

24. COMMUNITY UNIONISM Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. CONNOTATION Ways trade unions work with communities and community group. Unions seeking to reach out to the community. Sustain alliance beyond the walls of the workplace. Coalition between unions and communities.

25. COMMUNITY UNIONISM AT WORK Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. Support on union issue: the union seeks support from the community on a union issue e.g. 2010 SLTU mobilized the entire country to participate in a strike for a 7.5% salary increase; 2004 the re-opening of school and extension of the school year. Common specific issue: networking with groups for the implementation of the labour code, privatization of water.

26. COMMUNITY UNIONISM: WOMEN’S INTEREST. Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. How can unions use community unionism to address women’s issues? How can the entire community see the world through “women’s eyes”? Actions to increase women’s participation in decision making including politics? Speak out on violence and abuse, discrimination? Lobby to change the image of women in the media? Lobby religious denominations to change attitude on laws that disadvantage women? Action to strengthen family units in order to improve the quality of life?

27. UNIONS CATERING FOR WOMEN Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011.

28. CONCLUSION Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. In linking with communities, trade unions need Collaborate Consult Exchange information. Women must be empowered to increase our strength, capability, freedoms in order to fulfill our goals. The unions must play a pivotal role.

29. THANK YOU Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. “A woman who is convince that she deserves to accept only the best, challenges herself to give the best.” Maya Angelou MERCI GRACIOUS

30. CONTACT Examin Philbert SLTU/CUT-Bangkok, 2011. EXAMIN PHILBERT Personal: philo24@hotmail.com Tel: 1-758-454-5036 (H) 1-758-455-4327 (Sch.) 1-758-452-4469 (SLTU) Fax: 1-758-455-4328 (Sch.) 1-758-453-6668 (SLTU)