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Improved representation is the key

3 August 2006

A newly published ITF resource pack will help affiliates to act decisively to improve their women’s representation and, in doing so, the overall strength of their union.

The message of the pack is that, without full representation for women transport workers, no union can reach its potential organising. Yet thousands of women transport workers continue to see trade unions as an irrelevance – male dominated organisations that do not have their concerns on the agenda

The pack explains how the key trick with any process of change is to take a step by step approach. Unions must begin by ensuring they know who their women members are – how many and in what jobs – and how many are actively involved in the union, and at what level.

The next stage is to develop structures to represent. These include: regular meetings and forums for and about women; women’s committee; a women’s department or desk; a women’s officer; and reserved seats on decision-making bodies.

The changes must be brought to the heart of union organising, with new potential women members identified, women and young people used as organisers, and the union’s priorities regularly reviewed to reflect changing membership.

Look out for the ITF resource pack Making Unions Stronger, including workbook and DVD on women and globalisation. It is available at Congress and online from www.itfglobal.org

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