India road transport union to strengthen role of women activists

Hanumant Tate, general secretary, and Sheela Naikwade, women’s organiser, of ITF affiliate Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Sanghatana (MSTKS), joined Jodi Evans, ITF women transport workers assistant co-ordinator, and Nishi Kapahi, ITF education & women’s co-ordinator for Asia/Pacific, in a week-long programme of meetings with the MSTRC workers in mid-September.

While the corporation has taken the progressive decision to improve gender balance by reserving 30 per cent of all new vacancies for women, most of its commitments to make the workplace a safe environment for women employees are yet to be implemented at a local level.  

Sheela Naikwade said: “Although only six per cent of MSTKS members are women, this number is set to grow as more women are employed in all occupations, including bus conductors, cleaners, mechanics, accountants and electricians. They face major problems at work, such as physical violence, sexual harassment and the lack of women’s toilets, on top of the issues which affect both men and women workers. We are fortunate to have a general secretary who so strongly supports women and recognises the strength we can bring to our union, to the extent of making the time to come out with us to listen to their experiences.”

Hanumant Tate added that his and the union’s two priorities were to make sure that the women workers had equal workplace and union rights, and that they took the opportunity to get involved and help shape overall union strategy and activity for men and women. 

The MSTKS is supporting the development of women activists through providing training, reserving seats for women at all levels in the union, and forming local women’s committees in every depot, at division and state level.

Following the meetings, the ITF will continue to develop its programme to support the MSTKS and other affiliates working to address gender inequality and end violence against women transport workers.