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19 March, 2008Whether developing women activists, building international solidarity or fighting for fair trade, education is key to making real changes, believes Annie Labaj of the CAW.
Text / Anita Gardner
Photo / Valter Bittencourt CNM-CUT
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TORONTO, CANADA "I have never forgotten the empowerment that knowledge has and how important it is especially for women," said Annie Labaj, who was appointed Director of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) International Department in September last year. "I think this is why so many of the programs we support in other countries have an educational component." One such example is the ten-year collaboration between the CAW and the Brazilian trade union CNM/CUT on developing women activists.
"In 1997 two women from CNM/ CUT came up and participated in our education program designed to develop women's leadership.
The dynamic right from the beginning was something that we knew we wanted to continue," explained Annie.
"Their union, like ours, saw that there was a need to develop skills and build women's confidence in playing a leadership role. And that was the main goal of our program.
All most women needed, was to recognize that you didn't have to be male to be a leader and that once they developed some skills like public speaking they could aspire to be a leader as well," said Annie.
Annie first felt the need to learn more when she joined the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 222 at the General Motors Plant in Oshawa in 1973. Annie was hired to work on the assembly line at the truck plant and was one of six women working alongside 600 men on her shift.
After five years at the plant, Annie was elected chair of the Women's Committee. The women decided to better understand their role by learning about the history of the committee. "We learned that this small group of active and outspoken union women from UAW Local 222 succeeded in changing not only their workplace, but also the Ontario Human Rights Code," recalls Annie. "These women were our role models." In 1987, two years after the Canadian region spilt from the UAW, Annie began working in the Education Department of the CAW.
She was the first woman to join the department, and her involvement in trade union education continued with the specialized courses on global solidarity and for women activists when she moved to the International Department in 1996.
Having the opportunity to work with the CAW Social Justice Fund -- a fund that is negotiated by CAW members into their collective agreements to be able to do international work - has broadened Annie's perspective and she tries to share this with CAW members whenever possible.
"One of the most important aspects of my work is making sure that CAW leadership and activists feel connected to the various struggles for trade union and human rights on the international scene. One of the ways we try to do this is the week long education course on global issues," explains Annie. "Another is exchanges whether it is workers coming to Canada or CAW members traveling to other countries. The best way to learn and understand issues is to hear the information first hand, to be able to ask questions and dispel myths," she said.
"People have to feel comfortable with talking about the issues.
People might accept change, but they won't necessarily believe it unless they really understand why there is a need for it," said Annie.
"For example, before a very large "demo", like the one on trade in Quebec City in 2001, we ran workshops across the country to make sure that the membership understood why the union was opposing the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). It is not just that we don't want trade, we want fairer trade - trade that is going to benefit workers not set them up to compete in an ever downward spiral of working conditions," said Annie.
"What we've seen in successful workers' struggles is that you have to be persistent in building your leadership and activist core.
It takes time to build a movement -- it doesn't happen overnight," said Annie. "We know this in the women's movement and we know this in the trade union movement," said Annie, adding, "Sustained education combined with action is the only way to make real change."
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