1. 10th Anniversary ETUC Gender Equality Survey
Montserrat Mir
ETUC Confederal Secretary
ETUC Executive Committee, Brussels 13 June 2017

2. ETUC Gender Equality Survey
A political commitment undertaken since the Sevilla Congress, then reaffirmed by Athens and Paris Congress
An instrument aiming at:
Monitoring the proportion of women in the European trade union movement, including the proportion of women in decision-making positions and bodies
Adressing a specific issue high on EU/TU agenda and with gender equality relevance:
Gender pay gap
Childcare
Women in decision making positions
Collective bargaining
Domestic workers
Financial crisis
Violence against women
EU Strategy for gender equality
Occupational segregation
Gender pension gap
Every year the survey’s findings are presented and discussed with the Wom Com and shared with all affiliates
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

3. ETUC Gender Equality Survey
A very high response rate…
Over 10 years…
20 national confederations from 13 countries have responded to all annual gender equality surveys (ABVV / FGTB, ACV / CSC, CGSLB/ACLVB, PODKREPA, CMKOS, SAK, STTK, CGT, LIGA, CGIL, UIL, LBAS, LO-N, YS, UGT-P, CC.OO, UGT, LO-S, TCO, TUC)
and 13 from 12 countries which have never responded (USDA, TURK-SEN, ADEDY, ASzSz, BSBR, FTUM, CMTU, Forum, USM, VCP, CSDR, CDLS, DISK )
Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Affiliated 82 83 84 85 86 89
Replying 46 48 55 60 51 52 53 44
Rate (%)
56.1%
58.5%
67.1%
66.3%
71.4%
64.7%
60.0%
60.5%
59.6%
49.4%
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

4. ETUC Gender Equality Survey Women’s as proportion of employees
Source: Eurostat
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

5. ETUC Gender Equality Survey Women’s representation within unions
Source: ETUC Survey 2017
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

6. 10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
ETUC Gender Equality Survey Average percentage of union members who are women ( )
Source: ETUC Survey 2015/16
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

7. 10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
ETUC Gender Equality Survey Women in decision-making positions key leadership position & leadership teams in 2017
In 43 confederations there are 45 key leadership positions (33 presidents, 12 general secretaries) and 10 held by women (22.2%)
6 presidents: LO (Denmark), LIGA (Hungary), LO (Norway),UNIO (Norway), YS (Norway), TCO (Sweden)
4 general secretaries: ACV/CSC (Belgium) – joint, ICTU (Ireland), CISL (Italy), TUC (UK)
Clear improvement on 2015 – 13.9%
Leadership team defined as key leaders plus vice-presidents deputy general secretaries and treasurers
41 confederations provided information
Overall average proportion of women 29.6% (almost same as last year 29.0%)
In 13 confederations women make up 50% or more of this group
BUT in 10 confederations there are NO women in this group
Need to treat figures with caution
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

8. ETUC Gender Equality Survey Changes seen over the last 10 years
No change – 10 confederations
Not necessarily bad – TCO (Sweden): “Change happened earlier in 1990s and early 2000s”
More women members – 9 confederations
Hak-Is (Turkey): Increased from 12.5% in 2010 to 23.5% in 2017
More local reps – 4 confederations
UNSA (France): Increase in local reps partially a result of new law (Rebsamen) on gender balance
More women leaders– 18 confederations
DGB (Germany): Quotas and a gender equality programme
UGT (Portugal): Banking union now headed by woman
Appointment of key woman – 7 confederations
LIGA (Hungary) – Now have woman as president
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

9. ETUC Gender Equality Survey Conclusions
Women make up almost half of all employees (46.5%)
But fewer union members (44.1%)
Growing share of membership are women
Leadership needs to reflect this BUT does not yet
29.6% of leadership team
22.2% of key leaders
Progress over last 10 years
More women members, local reps and leaders
But still barriers
Male opposition, difficulties in combining union activities with personal life, lack of critical mass “Decisions on union appointments are taken by male-dominated committees and perhaps it seems natural to them to choose one of their peers”
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey

10. PART II : Gender pension gap
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey – Gender Pension Gap

11. Introduction
Women receive pensions which are much lower (around 40% lower across EU) than men
Key reasons for this
Women participate less in labour market than men (less likely to be working or looking for work)
Women are more likely to have periods when they stop working – to care for children or relatives
Women work fewer hours – part-time not full-time
Women’s pay is lower
41 confederations from 27 countries replied
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey – Gender Pension Gap

12. Are women’s pensions an issue for unions?
Gender pensions gap discussed – 33 confederations
Position on gender pensions gap – 31 confederations
Action to promote position on gender pensions gap – 29 confederations
Belgium – key union concern in negotiations with government
Bulgaria – discussed in tripartite council
Germany – discussions with government
Lithuania – in revision of social security law in 2016
Norway – discussions with government on changing public sector pension scheme
Portugal – raised issue with Council of Europe
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey – Gender Pension Gap

13. Union action on crediting periods of care for children or dependents
Have policy on crediting periods of care – 29 confederations
Have taken action on crediting periods of care – 24 confederations
Union action on crediting periods of care has had an impact – 19 confederations
ABVV / FGTB, ACLVB/CGSLB, ACV / CSC (Belgium): ongoing pressure from confederations has prevented government going as far as it planned
CMKOS (Czech Republic): new social insurance law preserves protection
LO (Norway): LO was at core of pension reform compromise in 2008 (view of Prime Minister)
ZSSS (Slovenia): following discussions in tripartite council confederation’s position was included in new law
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey – Gender Pension Gap

14. Union action on women’s pension ages
Have policy on women’s pension ages – 21 confederations
Have taken action on women’s pension ages – 19 confederations
Union action on women’s pension ages has had an impact – 10 confederations
CMKOS (Czech Republic): union involvement in legislative process (especially Expert Commission) had impact on government plans
NSZZ Solidarność (Poland): following pressure from unions, new government reversed previous policy and halted increase in pension age to 67 – for both men and women. Both will go back from October 2017 – to 60 for women and 65 for men
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey – Gender Pension Gap

15. Union action on women’s pension ages: the campaigns in the UK and Poland
Sejm przegłosował obniżenie wieku emerytalnego
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey – Gender Pension Gap

16. Conclusions
The gender pensions gap is an issue of concern in many European countries
Although less prominent than issues of – pension levels and pension ages
Confederations are adopting positions and taking action
Credit for periods of care is much more common in state than in occupational and company schemes
The more rapid increase in pension ages for women is a big issue for some countries
In most countries the private sector is playing a larger role with damaging consequences for women
In all these areas action can produce positive results
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey
10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey – Gender Pension Gap

17. Thank you very much for your attention

18. 10th Anniversary of ETUC Gender Equality Survey