In Turkey only very capable, skilful and determined women could be active in unions. Women need to have strong personalities and they must be able to shoulder daily chores, responsibilities for work, life and union activities all at once. The militancy expected from a union member is entirely opposed to the domestic and motherhood roles. So, the socialisation process of women strongly needs quotas for women on trade union committees.
Eylem Atep, Hava-Is, Turkey
(National Co-ordinator, Women’s Network, Turkey)

Women’s quotas are essential as long as there are still areas where the representation of women on decision-making bodies does not, as a matter of course, reflect at least their proportional share of the membership. We are working on the assumption that a quota system will lead to changes in behaviour and attitudes, which will in turn eliminate, we hope, the need for quotas in the not too distant future.
Regina Rusch-Ziemba, Transnet, Germany

1. This is positive discrimination, which gives a necessary role to the woman in a “men’s world”.

2. From my experience they are more rational than men but also greater fighters then men seafarers are.

3. It is not right to expect after so many years of male domination, that women can enter committees in a so called “regular” manner. The men are proposing, electing and so on.

4. The men have to stand up and not only support but fight for women’s rights.
Predrag Brazzoduro, Seafarers Union of Croatia

Due to the very limited number of female staff in the railway sector a generalised quota system based on the number of women members would, at the present time, mean less involvement of women in the decision-making structures of the GDE. However, some kind of minimum provision should exist.
Elisabeth Vondrasek, Gewerkschaft der Eisenbahner, Austria

The SID is against quotas based on gender. We find that trade union officials should be chosen for their qualifications not their sex –quotas are basically undemocratic in nature. On the other hand it must be clear that we fully support equal opportunities and consequently also support other relevant initiatives aimed at identifying and removing barriers for women’s participation in trade union work at all levels.
Flemming Smidt, SID, Denmark

Yes to a quota for the representation of women in trade union committees. But this should be conditional on a minimum of two criteria:

1. They must be competent. They must be able to understand the issue and be able to defend the interests of the women they represent.

2. Availability. They must be able to take part effectively in activities and meetings. The level of absenteeism is higher among women than among men.
Akwei Adote and Clumson-Eklu Etsri, Stranavitto, Togo

Conflict: what is your view? Conflicts are taking place between countries all over the world. High profile examples include American-led hostilities against Iraq, stand-offs between India and Pakistan, and ongoing clashes between Israel and Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied territories. This month’s Transport International question is: Should national trade unions take a position on regional and international conflicts that could affect their members, and why/why not? Please email your views, in a maximum of 50 words, to: parris_kay@itf.org.uk; closing date is 30 April