Sep-Oct 2008

Women@Work: International Campaigns

ICFTU Women's Conference

Rally for Paid Maternity leave in Australia held during the conference

Women trade unionists call for radical change on eve of day of action The 8th ICFTU Women's Conference held Melbourne, Australia in February threw down a challenge to unions throughout the world - reform your structures so that they are more inclusive of women and young people and reflect the increasing number of women joining union ranks. The alternative is a slow death. A three-woman ITF delegation led by Sue Virago of the Maritime Union of Australia and a member of the ITF Women's Committee, hammered home the message when giving a presentation about recruiting and organising young women in the transport sector. A total of 500 delegates from across the globe discussed numerous strategies for recruiting women workers who frequently bear the brunt of globalisation in poor countries.

Susan Lynch from the Waterways also attended the conference plenaries as part of the ACTU Women's conference which was held at the same time, representing MUA Women.

Ms Virago said: The quote of the conference to my mind which emphasised the main diference with the human rights struggle and gender perspectives came from Nancy Riche, former Chair of the ICFTU Women's committee.

"Men are suprised when their rights are taken away from them, women are suprised when they are given rights"

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