Gender Mainstreaming in the Trade Unions Movement Actrav, November 2006

Overview What is gender equality (concepts, approaches) Challenges of women in the TU movements Characteristics of informal economy Barriers to organizing women

WHAT IS GENDER? SEX  BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS GENDER  CONSTRUCTED ROLES AND RELATIONS Social Cultural Traditional Power relations…

WHAT? Ethnicity Socio economic status Health condition Age Religion, beliefs Education Gender

Phase “Women in Development” (WID)... In projects and activities WID Sensitive to women’s issues

Phase “Gender and Development”... Sensitive to problems link to women and men In projects and acitivities

Phase “Gender Mainstreaming…Sustainable Sensitive and responsive to women and men In projects and activities

Gender Mainstreaming Giving equal opportunities and rights to men and women Transforming systemic inequalities in legislation, policies, programmes, etc into equal and just structures.

ILO’s Four Sectors How is gender integrated in these sectors: Policy level Bureau for Gender Equality,GenProm International labour standards - rights at work Social protection OSH Social Dialogue Employment: quantity and quality Gender Mainstreaming

What is your TU doing for gender equality? Family friendly policy in the work place? Is there career equality for women? Do women participate equally in union activities? Are women’s specific concerns being mainstreamed in the movement? Example: In some regions women lose seniority if they take career breaks for family reasons, while men receive credit for time taken to undertake military service.

How is your TU doing it? Are women involved at the negotiating table In the various committees (health, training, etc) In grievance handling procedure As shop stewards In the executive committee Any positive action measures?

Barriers and resistances to implement equality measures Stereotypes about women’s ability, culture, beliefs, etc Discouragement or hostile reaction from colleagues and family Informal procedures for nomination relying on established male networks Women’s voice may be weak Lack of representation Family responsibilities Part time work of women Lack of confidence of women

Women and Gender structure Women’s committee: ensure that there not marginalized and have resources and direct contact with decision-making bodies Gender equality committee Women’s department Web of focal points

Characteristic of the informal economy Which group do you want to reach to? working sector (industry, rural, home workers, domestic workers, migrants, indigenous, etc) type of workers (casual, temporary, seasonal, part-time What are the characteristic of that group? Self-employment (represents the majority in the informal economy, ie. Home based workers, street vendors, etc) Wage employment in informal jobs (domestic workers, industrial outworkers) Number of men and women, education and literacy levels, fear of reprisals, etc.

Organizing Challenges Conventional methods of recruiting less effective Change the perception of unions Consider the characteristic of the group: Women may be more reluctant, less willing to take chances Solutions Organizing special event for target group i.e. homeworkers Raising awareness of workers rights Established and proven track record on gender equality Having more flexible rules Social dialogue with govt to help enforce laws protecting workers

Organizing, the ways…. Two ways: extending its field of activity to include informal sector workers. For example, the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) new trade unions created specifically to organize informal sector workers. For example (SEWA) in India, organizes homeworkes, street vendors, etc. Seeking new partnerships Other methods: organizing street committees, getting involved in community development, etc