ITF executive board women's vice president Brigitta Pass (FNV Bondgenoten, Netherlands) and ITF women’s committee vice-chairs Ann Anderson (CCWU, Guyana) and Kalthoum Barkallah (FNCT, Tunisia) are working at the event with Jodi Evans, ITF women transport workers assistant co-ordinator.
They are part of a 160-strong trade union group attending the CSW60 from 14-24 March to lobby on a range of issues including decent work, gender parity and an end to gender-based violence.
At the first union event, which was co-hosted on Monday by the Canadian Mission, the Canadian Labour Congress and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the packed room heard about research showing the human and economic cost of domestic violence on the workplace. The panel shared action taken by the ITF and its unions, governments and employers – including collective bargaining clauses on leave provisions and safety planning, and national surveys.
On the same day, Jodi Evans made a statement during a European Parliament event about the role of governments in combating violence against women. She said: “The impact of austerity is taking its toll on women workers globally. They are over-represented in precarious work and their economic vulnerability makes them more likely to experience violence, both at home and in the workplace.
“Legislation on violence against women is absolutely necessary, along with union and community action on enforcement and changing attitudes. But we also need to address precarious work more comprehensively, so the most vulnerable women workers don’t continue to slip through the cracks.”
Keep up with union news and photographs from the UNCSW60 at http://www.world-psi.org/uncsw/ and at the Women Power Unions Facebook page.
Download the statement to the UNCSW60 by the ITF and its sister global unions.
