Groundbreaking training to help Arab World women trade unionists set agenda

Eighteen leading women trade unionists from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Yemen and the host country are participating in both events in Tunisia. They represent workers across the transport industries, including ports, aviation and tourism.

The four-day ITF training programme with Dr Elaine Bernard, executive director of Harvard’s Labour and Worklife Programme, and ITF women’s coordinator Alison McGarry, is the first to be delivered in the Arab World. It aims to build on women’s existing qualities and experiences to support them in becoming stronger leaders and building more powerful unions.

Kalthoum Barkallah, ITF women's committee representative for the Arab World, said: “Over the four days of training, we shared a range of leadership activities and tools, from alliance building and strategic planning to organising. This will have immediate practical outcomes, as it assisted the women’s committee to develop our four-year strategy. We’re pleased that union leaders from the region joined us at the start of our committee meeting to share our thoughts.”

ITF women’s co-ordinator Alison McGarry added that the training was completed at the committee meeting, where members planned the 2014-18 work programme focusing on organising, campaigning and developing strong union leaders in the Arab world.

The ITF is also encouraging women trade unionists to sign up for its Women leaders lighting fires leadership event in Maryland, United States on 2-7 November 2014. Find out more on the Facebook event page.