19 March, 2025On 8 March, women trade unionists around the world took action. From South America to India, from factory floors to offices, they marched, rallied and raised their voices, not just in celebration, but in defiance of the injustices that persist. They demanded better maternity benefits, the right to organize, stronger collective bargaining and to close the gender pay gap.
It was not just another International Women’s Day. This was a global call to action.
As part of the global actions marking International Women's Day, Christiane Benner, vice president of IndustriALL and president of German union IG Metall, delivered a powerful video message emphasizing the ongoing struggle for gender equality. She highlighted key achievements, including increased representation of women in union leadership, collective bargaining wins for work-life balance, and structural changes within IG Metall to support women in traditionally male-dominated industries. Benner’s message reinforced the importance of collective action in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
At the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69/Beijing+30), global unions made one thing clear: the time for promises is over. They are pushing for a gender-transformative social contract, one that does not simply pay lip service to equality but delivers real, structural change.
Women workers in Indonesia took bold steps, demanding justice in the garment industry, where cases of gender-based violence and discrimination persist. In South Africa, NUM’s national women’s conference vowed to fight patriarchy and gender-based violence at work, reaffirming that the struggle is not just about policy but about the daily reality of workers.
Together, global unions are demanding:
- Gender equality for social justice, democracy, and peace
- Recognition of women’s labour rights as human rights
- Decent work for women
- Equal pay for work of equal value
- Workplaces free from gender-based violence and harassment
Women in leadership: From presence to power
This year, IndustriALL’s theme, "women in leadership", celebrates the women who are breaking barriers. They are leading unions, negotiating fairer workplaces, and proving that gender equality is not just about being at the table, but having a voice that shapes the future.
From Brazil to Türkiye, from manufacturing plants to the highest levels of union leadership, women are rewriting history. Their message is clear:
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The push for women in leadership is not just IndustriALL's priority but a global movement. The ITUC’s Women in Leadership initiative amplifies this fight by recognizing that representation is not enough, real power means women leading negotiations, shaping policies and driving systemic change. Women trade unionists worldwide are taking this vision forward, ensuring that leadership structures reflect the workforce they represent. The demand is clear: women’s leadership must be the norm, not the exception.
Women are no longer waiting for a seat at the table. They are taking it. And on International Women’s Day, and every single day, the fight is for a world where women in leadership is not an exception, but the norm.
Breaking barriers, lifting others
“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. It is about breaking barriers, lifting others as we rise, and ensuring that the next generation does 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,” said Christina Olivier, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.
Workers’ solidarity, the key in organizing white-collar workers
Women organizers in Southeast Asia reinforced this message, holding a virtual follow-up session to strategize on organizing white-collar workers despite challenges like funding cuts and workplace fragmentation. The discussion emphasized the power of solidarity, job security, and addressing workers' concerns through direct engagement.
In Europe, trade unionists reaffirmed their commitment to gender equality and women's leadership. IndustriALL Europe emphasized the importance of ensuring that equality policies are not just words on paper but result in real change for women in the workplace. The message is clear: gender equality is a fundamental trade union issue, and achieving it requires collective action and continuous pressure.
Turning words into action
IndustriALL is not just talking about equality, it is making it happen. This year, the union launched a new pay equity training module to equip affiliates with concrete tools to fight for fair wages and full recognition of women’s work. Developed with support from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), these modules are more than just training materials. They are blueprints for change.
The fight for women’s equality is not over. It is not a trend, nor a moment. It is a revolution.
Women in every factory, every union, every country have the rights, dignity and power they deserve.
We reached out to women in IndustriALL's networks throughout many of our sectors, asking questions to women in leadership and women who have been mentored by IndustriALL's women leaders. The responses came pouring in, so many that we couldn’t showcase them all on Women’s Day. So be sure to stay tuned to hear from the many voices of women of IndustriALL, because, in the words of Christina Olivier, this is a movement, not a moment. We don’t need a specific day to share this—we will just keep it coming.