24 May, 2011Progress in the metalworkers' confederation affiliated to Força Sindical in Brazil - a woman is elected leader of the confederation for the first time.
BRAZIL: Mónica de Oliveira Lorenço Veloso is the new president of the national metalworkers' confederation affiliated to the Força Sindical (CNTM/FS), becoming the first woman to lead the confederation.
Since 1990, Mónica has held other leadership positions in the trade union movement. She first joined the Metalworkers Union of Osasco, where she became General Secretary of the union. She became National Officer for Youth, Children and Adolescents In Força Sindical and then National Officer for Human Rights. She was elected to the national executive and is currently International Relations Officer for FS.
She was the first woman to become president of the trade union research organisation DIEESE in 2001 and in 2000 she was made vice-president of the World Youth Committee of ICFTU (now ITUC). Mónica is also on the IMF Executive Committee and has played a major role at the regional level where she has worked hard to promote gender equality in the unions.
IMF is very glad to hear the news that Mónica has been elected president of the CNTM and believes this represents major progress for IMF structures and for affiliated trade union organisations. Adequate representation of women in the new international trade union federation is the subject of discussion at the IMF regional women's conferences and workshops this year. Affiliates remain aware there is a long way to go but emphasize the importance of equal opportunities and call for more women to be elected to positions of leadership.