The Role of Women and Youth in Strengthening Trade

Transcript:The Role of Women and Youth in Strengthening Trade:
The Role of Women and Youth in Strengthening Trade Unions in Africa Dr. REGINA G MWATHA (Ph.D) MBS TRADE UNION FEDERATION OF EASTERN AFRICA (TUFEA) CONFERENCE 13th-15th August 2018 the Stanley Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya Outline of the Presentation 1. Introduction 2. within the union leadership structures 3. bring on board other players 4. Different strategy in changing times Introduction Trade unions are embedded in one important concern of people’s lives – their job. They understand the labour challenges in their country and they have practical ideas for overcoming them. They are central advocates for the promotion of decent employment. Gender equality is understood globally as a fundamental human right and as critical for sustainable development and strong participatory democracies. Trade unions understand the importance of gender equality, and Africa boasts strong examples of gender integration policies and majority-female unions. Trade unions make a difference to the lives of women. Trade unions need women and youthful members but can only deliver real benefits if they take seriously the imperative to identify women’s and youth concerns and take targeted measures to help/support women and the youth at work and in the trade union democratic structure. 1. Within the Union Leadership Structures 1.Provision of Diverse Thought Through Increased Participation in Top Union Leadership Positions at National Regional and International levels Women in trade union leadership are often confined to positions dealing specifically with gender issues rather than serving in the highest-ranking positions, which limits their impact within unions and the capacity of unions to represent workers. Women and their advocates have achieved some concrete gains in terms of increasing women’s participation in unions and union leadership BUT Trade unions are likely to benefit more when they diversify their thought and plan process by bringing more women and youth at the at the national regional and international level leadership positions. Description of Women Unions Officials as placed at branch and National Level in Kenya 2007 Description of Women Unions Officials as placed at branch and National level in Kenya Source: Machyo 2003 Africa Labour Research Network Percent Membership and NEC Gender Representation in Trade Unions in Ghana 2014 Source: Africa Labour Research Network 2014 Link Training and Education to Movement to Higher leadership Positions Elkiss (1992) conducted a survey in the United States to quantify the move if any into upper level union leadership positions of past participants after they had attended a three-day