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Transport workers reinforce commitment to organise women workers
8 February 2010
Women unionists from ITF affiliates came together in London last week, to build unions and fight global challenges to labour.
"Women transport workers have committed to redouble their efforts to organise women transport workers across the globe, who have not yet got the advantages of union membership," said Alison McGarry, ITF women transport workers coordinator, at the event.
Strategic targeting campaigns to organise women transport workers emerged as the prime strategy from the ITF women's transport workers conference. This is to build the strong unions necessary to tackle the global challenges of unemployment, poverty and climate change.
The 220 women participants pledged their commitment at the ITF women’s conference, from 3-4 February where they heard from organisers working in ports, low cost airlines, bus, rail and travel trade campaigns.
Highlighting her own experience, Doris Hiu Yan Sin, Hong Kong Storehouses, Transportation & Logistic Staff Association, described what her union was doing to organise women in the Hong Kong Container Terminals. “We’re building up from a very low level of women membership by finding common issues to unite around and by working with other unions in a similar position,” she told participants.
Meanwhile, Dina Feller, from Argentinean affiliate Asociación Argentina de Aeronavegantes, explained how the union’s attempt to organise aviation workers was taking place in a very difficult environment. The airline, LAN, had pursued anti-union policies, providing workers with incentives to stay away from union activities. In spite of this, however, the union had successfully made inroads through careful planning and by targeting workers strategically.
Diana Holland, ITF women’s committee chair, summed up the event: “Every single woman felt stronger as a result of attending and the ITF is stronger for their commitment and enthusiasm. We have brought a lot of life to the women's work."
Additional photos: www.flickr.com/photos/itf/sets/72157623217483893/
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