6 March, 2025"Every year on 8 March, companies post messages about gender equality. Governments make speeches. Flowers are handed out in workplaces and we often talk about a 'celebration'. But where is the action? Where is the change? International Women’s Day must not be reduced to empty words and gestures, it must be a day of mobilizing, of fighting, of pushing forward," says IndustriALL assistant general secretary Christina Olivier.
"For women trade unionists, this fight is not about a single day, it is about the daily reality of demanding equal pay, safe workplaces and the right to lead in our unions. It is about breaking barriers, lifting others as we rise and ensuring that the next generation of women trade unionists do not have to fight the same battles over and over again.
"Our struggle does not last 24 hours. It lasts a lifetime. I know this because I have lived it.
"I started my journey in the labour movement in 1987 on the factory floor of an electronics plant in South Africa. I became a shop steward, a branch leader and later, the first woman regional chairperson of NUMSA Western Cape. I have seen firsthand what it means for women to step into leadership and the resistance we face when we do.
"I also know that no one rises alone. The progress we have made has been won through mentorship, solidarity and collective action. And that is why we must keep pushing forward, not just today, but every day.
Mentoring: building women’s leadership for lasting change
"At IndustriALL, we know that change happens through sustained action, solidarity and leadership development. That is why our mentoring programme is more than just training, it is a movement to build strong women leaders who will push for change within their unions and industries.
"Women who once doubted their ability to lead are now stepping into powerful roles. Mildred Naa Adoley Addo from Ghana describes how mentorship transformed her leadership confidence:
"This mentorship program has taken my confidence level from a 3 to a 6.5 so far! I am still learning, but now I step forward instead of holding back. I have grown as a leader—before, I would have panicked and avoided leadership opportunities. Now, I take them head-on!"
"Mentorship does not just shape individuals—it creates a ripple effect. Tracy Faustina Dadson from Ghana, a mentee, is already mentoring another young woman at her workplace:
"The mentorship program is worth every cent invested. When I see my fellow female mentees, I see local unions and families that have been impacted. I have already started mentoring a young woman at work, passing on what I’ve learned. We need more of this."
"When women see themselves in leadership, when they know they have support and when they are given the tools to navigate union structures, they change the system from within. This is how we break the cycle of exclusion and keep the fight moving forward.
Fair pay and economic justice: more than just words
"Mentorship alone is not enough. Women must also have economic security and financial independence. Pay equity is one of our biggest fights, because in every sector we represent, women are still paid less than men for work of equal value.
"As Tracy Faustina Dadson learned from her mentor, it is not enough to negotiate, implementation is key:
"Negotiation is an unending journey. Policies for the wellbeing of people should be well documented and we must be watchdogs ensuring all workers get what is due to them."
"Unions must demand and negotiate for pay equity as a core part of collective bargaining. Governments must be held accountable for enforcing laws that ensure equal pay. We cannot afford to let this fight be reduced to reports and promises, we need action.
Ending gender-based violence at work: no more silence, no more fear
"Workplaces will never be truly equal until gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) are eradicated. Women cannot be empowered if they feel unsafe, disrespected, or silenced by fear.
"At IndustriALL, we are fighting to make ILO Convention 190 a reality in workplaces worldwide. We have developed a comprehensive policy to end GBVH because unions must take the lead in demanding safer workplaces.
"Maria John Bange from Tanzania describes how mentorship gave her the confidence to stand her ground in the face of challenges:
"My mentor taught me that no matter the challenges I face, I must keep moving forward. She helped me see that leadership is not about waiting for permission, it’s about taking action."
"Women should not have to fight alone for safe workplaces. Trade unions must negotiate strong protections, hold employers accountable and support survivors. Every woman has the right to work without fear.
A movement that never stops
"The struggle for women’s rights in the workplace and in unions cannot be reduced to a single day. It is not about celebrations, it is about resistance, power and progress.
"At IndustriALL, we are not just marking International Women’s Day—we are using it to mobilize for the future. The mentoring programme, the fight for equal pay and the campaign to end GBVH are not initiatives of the moment, they are the foundation of a movement that will keep growing.
"To every woman in our unions: your fight matters, your leadership is needed and you are not alone.
"To all women leaders: lift others as you rise. Mentor, support and advocate for those coming after you.
"To the next generation: step forward, claim your space and know that we are standing beside you.
"This is not a day. This is a movement. And we will never stop!"