7 December, 2011Delegates discuss and make proposals on precarious work, organizing women workers and priorities for the new international.
INDONESIA: More than 100 delegates met in Jakarta on Monday, December 4 to debate priorities and challenges for a new organization planned to be founded in June comprised of three Global Union Federations, the International Metalworkers' Federation, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy and Mine and General Workers' Unions and the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation.
IMF affiliates discussed progress made since the 2009 IMF Congress resolution to advance gender equality and combat precarious work in their unions and around the world. Representatives from Tanzania, Indonesia, France and Germany presented examples of union initiatives to educate members and the public on the devastating impact of precarious work on communities, with a particular focus on women workers.
Women delegates from around the world shared strategies and challenges faced by their unions to increase women's participation at the local, regional and national level. Organizing women and precarious workers were identified as key priorities by conference delegates including the need to strengthen and push forward women candidates for leadership roles of strategic importance in their unions and in the new global union federation.
Some delegates supported a call for changes to the current draft statutes of the new global union federation that would require 30 per cent women's representation at all levels of the new structure. The proposed changes include mandating that women hold 30 per cent of the proposed eight elected officer seats of the new international and be represented at the same level in all decision-making bodies including the Finance Committee and Congresses. Other delegates suggested that defining representation in the statutes might not solve the issue of fair women representation.
Delegates proposed the need for the new organization to develop a clear women's program, including a women's desk and regional structures to fully support a gender equality program.