Women’s Voices From Around The World
Canada - The issue of peace is where we need to be at says Marie Clarke Walker from the Canadian Labour Council.
Columbia - Life is dangerous as a trade unionist in Columbia - hundreds are assassinated each year. Rosa Flerez Gonzalez explains how the struggle for trade union and human rights in her country are entwined.
Holland - Leontine Bijleveld, from the Dutch union federation (FNV) explains why part time work is a hot subject in Holland and about the ideas for combating racism she has learnt in Melbourne.
Ireland - Inez McCormack, from the Irish Council of Trade Unions talks about organising in a country riven by conflict and the need for unions to stick up for those at the hard end.
Japan - Seiko Hiyashi of Japanese union federation RENGO explains how women are becoming increasingly influential in Japanese unions.
Palestine - It’s hard to to work on labour issues when you are living in a war zone and no one has a job says Palestinian trade unionist Abla Masrujeh.
Russian Federation - Times are tough in Russia and Tatiana Frolova says the trade union movement is the most organised and effective part of civil society.
South Africa - Jafta Mummy from COSATU talks about the role of unions in a transforming South Africa, maintaining mass energy, and the tragedy of HIV-AIDS in South African workplaces.
United States - President Bush likes to talk fondly about the American people before international audiences but Linda Chavez-Thompson from the AFL-CIO says he has worked diligently to roll back many of the protections American workers have fought for for years.
NGOs - Elmira Nazombe from the Women's International Coalition for Economic Justice discusses the need to link gender with macroeconomic policy and how unions can work constructively with NGOs.
Speeches To The Conference
Helen Clarks Keynote Speech to the ICFTU Womens Conference New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark outlines how a progressive social democratic government working with unions can create a fair and just society.
A Condition Of Our Survival - organising women in the informal economy, part-time and other atypical work, and the rural sector provides unions with their key challenge says ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder in this address to the Womens Conference.
Gender Equity is a Fundamental Human Right - in this opening speech to the ICFTU Womens Conference ACTU President Sharan Burrow says in a socially just world womens aspirations and life choices and achievements would not be threatened by the question of gender.
On The Shoulders Of Our Sisters - Australian unionist Helen Creed, chairperson of the ICFTU Womens Committee welcomed participants to the opening of the conference.
Invisible Work - until we recognise womens unpaid work in caring for and maintaining homes and families, and the value of this work to the community, we will only be getting half the story across in the debate about work and family argues Rob Hull.
Reshaping Work and Family - unions have been, and continue to be, a bridge between the worlds of work, community and family argues Victorian Minister for Women's Affairs, Mary Delahunty.
Listen To The Conference On Streaming Radio
SBS Radio will be web broadcasting some of the ICFTU Women’s conference in featured languages via streaming radio. To listen visit the SBS Radio website.
The ACTU Women’s Congress
The program and background papers for the ACTU Women’s Congress which is being run in parallel with the 8th ICFTU World Women’s Conference.
Conference Discussion Guide
Unions For Women: Making Unions Work For Women
Introduction – this discussion guide outlines the themes and issues to be discussed at the conference
1.1 Globalising Equality And Justice - this document addresses the major policy choices facing the union movement under three broad headings: world trade; sustainable development and finance; and multinational companies
1.2 Women In The Global Economy - women’s engagement in economic activity continues to increase world-wide
1.3 The State of the Unions Today: The ICFTU Millennium Review - analyses the priorities, strategies and structures of the international trade union organisations in the context of the challenges of globalisation
1.4 Union Women Today – thanks to women unions are growing
1.5 “Ask A Working Woman”: The ICFTU Survey – this survey identifies priority issues for working women, how they feel their unions address these issues; and the reasons why non-union women do not become members
1.6 The Global Unions’ Organising Campaign: “Unions for Women; Women for Unions” - in spite of increasing participation and accounting for most of the new members, women are still under-represented in the total membership of unions
1.7 Migrants, Ethnic/Racial Minorities; Indigenous Women - because of their marginalized and often illegal status, migrant women tend to be subject to exploitation
1.8 Making Unions Work For Women: Rejuvenating the Movement - a threat that undermines the strength and future of trade unions is that far too few young people are joining
1.9 Formalising The Informal Economy – strategies are needed to defend and promote the rights of the ever-growing number of informal sector workers
1.10 Ending Discrimination At The Workplace: Gender Equality Bargaining - our objective is equality at the workplace
1.11 Pay Equity Now! - pay equity is a fundamental right of women workers
1.12 The ILO And Women Workers - the purpose of this Discussion Sheet is to provoke a debate on how unions can work more effectively for women in and through the ILO
Women For Unions: The Force Of The Future
2.1 Revitalising The Movement: Future Directions Of The ICFTU - the focus is firmly on increasing our capacity to construct a better and stronger future for trade unionism
2.2 Feminising Unions: Networking, Training And Role Models As A Political Strategy - union women inhabit the territory where the cultures of the labour movement and the women’s movement collide
2.3 Building An Inclusive Movement And Celebrating Diversity - sexism, racism, xenophobia, intolerance, bigotry and prejudice have no place in the trade union movement
2.4 Creating And Strengthening Alliances - it is of crucial importance for unions to work together with non-governmental and social organisations
2.5 Fighting For Workers’ Rights/Women’s Rights As Human Rights - workers’ political and civil rights must be guaranteed on the same level as their economic, social and cultural rights
2.6 Mainstreaming Our Concerns Into The Popular Culture - much more can be done to improve the international trade union image and identity
2.7 Reconciling – Successfully – Work, Family And Trade Unionism -. how do we juggle and find satisfaction in all three arenas: family, work and unions?
2.8 Enhancing Our Role In Peace Building And Conflict Resolution - underlying many of the armed conflicts in different parts of the world are deep-rooted tensions originating in social deprivation, discrimination and the denial of basic human rights
2.9 Ensuring A Healthy And Safe Working Environment For All - many women end up doing jobs that nobody else would do often without adequate protection and information
2.10 No To Violence Against Women - Everywhere in the world increasing numbers of women are being subjected to violence
2.11 Women For Unions: Combating The HIV/AIDS Pandemic - a climate of discrimination and lack of respect of human rights leaves workers more vulnerable to infection and less able to cope with HIV/AIDS