ETF-CER joint recommendations for a better integration of women in railways

The European Social Partners in the railway sector – the ETF and the CER – signed on 12 June, in Rome, a set of recommendations meant to improve the presence of women in the railway sector. They address Social Partners’ members and focus on:

better participation of women in technical occupations
better access to all railway professions
better work-life balance
better workplace safety and security measures to allow women opt for work shifts
equal access to training
a better gender equality workplace culture
a thorough implementation of relevant Community acquis at the level of the sector.

The ETF will focus its efforts on dissemination activities and on promoting the implementation of the joint recommendation via collective bargaining.

The formal signing ceremony took place within the frame of a conference bringing together railway trade union and company representatives from 17 European countries. Lena Moberg Lindwall, member of the ETF Railway Section Bureau, and Sabine Trier, Deputy General Secretary signed the document of behalf of the ETF, while the CER was represented by Frantz NIGL, Chairman of the CER Human Resources Directors Group and Jean-Paul Preumont, Senior Social Adviser.

Besides the recommendations at the core of the joint text, the ETF and CER further recommend to member organisations to monitor the evolution of women’s participation in railway professions, pay levels and quality of working conditions and to take measures that address workplace inequalities between female and male workers. To this extent, the joint recommendations bring forward provisions of the European Union Directive on equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training, promotion and working conditions (Directive 2002/73/EC).

In 2004 the ETF and CER started analysing the situation of women in the railway sector. A series of company visits organised in eleven EU Member States provided substantial information on the topic, all summarised in a final report “Representation and Better Integration of Women in the Different Professions of the Railway Sector”. The joint recommendations complete the European Social Partners’ efforts to promote and support women in the railway industry.

Why the need for these joint recommendations?

because women are indispensable for a modern service company
because in technical occupations, it is a proven fact that gender diversity contribute to better workplace climate and quality of work
because there is a huge potential with the female workforce, in terms of education, skills and qualifications. Companies with a convincing equal opportunity policy will be the first to win this potential
because as family life become gradually a ‘responsibility’ shared by both women and men, men will be as likely as women to take up – for instance – mobile professions

What types of action are recommended at company level?

fighting against stereotypes
developing non-discriminatory criteria for access to railway professions
promote women at all decision-making levels
support the re-entry from maternity / parental leave with tutorial assistance
providing child-care facilities
training – gender sensitisation – for employees
adapting the workplace environment to the needs of both women and men

For more information contact Sabine Trier, s.trier@etf-europe.org