European Transport Workers´ Federation ETF WOMEN’S COMMITTEE Report of activities 2001 - 2005 European Transport Workers Federation WOMEN’S CONFERECE Mariehamn,

European Transport Workers´ Federation

ETF WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

Report of activities 2001 - 2005

European Transport Workers Federation WOMEN’S CONFERECE

Mariehamn, 24 May 2005



Women’s representation in the ETF

the ETF Women’s Conference and ETF Women’s Committee



The ETF Women’s Conference and ETF Women’s Committee

Founding: 2001 / ETF 1st Ordinary Congress decides on:

creating the ETF Women’s Committee / an ETF Women’s Conference will precede the works of each ETF Congress a number of amendments to the ETF Constitution to ensure women’s representation in ETF policy making bodies

The ETF Women’s Conference meets every 4 years and elects 12 women’s representatives to the ETF Women’s Committee

The ETF Women’s Committee meets 2 times / year and is made up of the 12 women’s representatives elected by the Conference 8 women nominated by the 8 ETF sections



Level of women’s representation in the ETF leading bodies: ETF Executive Committee – 6 elected Women’s Committee membersETF Management Committee – 1 elected Women’s Committee member

Role of the ETF gender equality bodies Identify issues related to gender in transport Promote and include the gender dimension in the ETF work Put forward proposals and resolutions to the Executive Committee, the Sections and the Congress Make proposals for women’s representatives in the ETF Executive and Management Committees



The ETF place amongst other European Industrial Federations

From a total number of 11 European Industrial Federations (EIF-s), the ETF is proud to be

one of the 8 EIF-s having women’s structures (Committees etc.) one of the 8 EIF-s having adopted an Equality Policy one of the 5 EIF-s having a women’s strategy one of the 3 EIF-s having gender balanced representation in their decision making bodies

(data provided by a 2002 ETUC analytical survey on the gender in EIF-s)



ETF Women’s Committee work programme and strategy for 2001 - 2005

2001, Zagreb – Conclusions of the Women’s Conference

2003 – the ETF Women’s Committee sets up strategic priorities: To mainstream the gender dimension into the ETF policies / the section level is one of the main targets To improve representation and participation of women transport workers in the ETF and amongst the ETF affiliates To identify areas of research on gender in transport to guide and stimulate the policy making process within and outside the ETF To promote Europe-wide cooperation amongst women transport workers To build capacity amongst women transport workers / access to information To build cooperation with organisations active in gender equality



ACTIVITIES – progress towards strategic aims



AIM: Mainstreaming the gender dimensions into the ETF work

2004 / initiative of the European social partners in the RAILWAY SECTOR – project on women’s integration in railway professions: ETF – CER country visits; meetings with social partners from SNCF (France), MAV (Hungary), PKP (Poland); questionnaire; final report published in May 2005, to analyse the employment structure and status of women workers in railway enterprises

Future challenges: identify transport specific gender issues raising gender awareness at the level of other ETF sections include gender dimension on the European social dialogue agenda



AIM – Improving participation and representation of women transport workers in the ETF and amongst the ETF affiliates

2003 / Women’s Committee resolution on improving participation of women trade unionists in the ETF activities 2004 – 8th of March bilateral visits: outcome - VDSzSz Hungary setting up a women’s committee; Trade Union of Railway Workers of Croatia – women’s representation in the trade union leading board 2003 / 2004 – two ETF Women’s network meetings 2003 – study visit to Brussels for women transport workers

Future challenges achieve gender balanced representation in the ETF affiliates, following the example of the ETF participation of women in the ETF work: European Social dialogue, section meetings, other activities



AIM – identify areas of research to guide and stimulate the policy making process within and outside the ETF

the ETF Women’s Committee is working on a database of existing studies on women in transport industry possible areas of research have been identified – example: women’s participation in the labour market in transport / newly emerging sector (logistics) and the Committee will discuss on priorities

Future challenges resources feed back from affiliates with regards to the SPECIFIC situation and problems faced by women transport workers



AIM – Promoting cooperation amongst women transport workers

The ETF Women’s network: set up in 2002; currently 51 members / 45 ETF affiliates; primary target group for ETF gender activities; role: facilitate contacts and exchanges; feed-back and dissemination of ETF gender work; help coordinate European projects and campaigns; build up solidarity between women transport workers the ETF annual network meetings: Budapest 2003; Brussels 2004 Budapest 2003: 22 network members / 15 countries set up the network priorities; Brussels 2004: 16 members / 13 countries discussed the main document to be presented at the ETF Women’s Conference; guest speakers - European Commission and ETUC

Future challenges attract more affiliates to nominate members in the network facilitate input in the work of the ETF Women’s Committee work: 1st day of each Committee meeting will be open to network members



AIM – Empowering women transport workers

The ETF study visit for women transport workers – December 2003:

it facilitated better understanding of the ETF, its role and activities; a better understanding on the functioning of the EU and of the EU gender policies and law programme: meetings with the ETF staff, the ETUC, the European Commission, visit to the European Parliament and meeting with the Chairperson of the EP Women’s Rights Committee; meeting with CER and ETF / presentation of the European sectoral dialogue in the railway sector target group: multi-country – 9 women transport workers from 9 countries the ETF intends to organise annual study visits for women transport workers



AIM – Empowering women transport workers (continuation)

The ETF 8th of March country visits – March 2004, 2005:

concept: ETF Women’s Committee members visited trade unions in 4 countries: Croatia (Trade Union of Railway Workers), Lithuania (Lithuanian Transport Workers Federation), Romania (USL Metro) – 2004; Turkey (Hava Is) – 2005 purpose: talk with grass root women trade unionists; give visibility to women transport workers; promote representation and participation of women in trade union life programme: meeting women workers at workplace; meeting trade union leaders to discuss trade union role in promoting gender equality




The ETF – European Commission seminar on Community acquis – December 2004:

purpose: a better knowledge of the EU gender legislation and policies; on the role of social partners and of the EU institutions (including the European Court of Justice); report on the level of implementation of Community gender acquis in the new Member States and the candidate countries target group: 40 participants from new Member States and 2 candidate countries; ETF, UNI Europa, the European Women’s Lobby, national government authorities programme: meeting women workers at workplace; meeting trade union leaders to discuss trade union role in promoting gender equality




Future challenges

transfer of knowledge and capacity building to the grass root members in the context where the ETF will continue to work with the members of the ETF women’s network who will have to ensure the above mention



AIM – Strengthening cooperation with outside organisation

Participation of the ETF in the negotiations on the frame of action on gender equality (ETUC – UNICE / UEAPME / CEEP) – 2003 - 2005

helped strengthen links with the ETUC and other European Industrial Federations

Future challenges for the ETF to become part of the formal and informal network of organisations and institutions active in the field of gender equality for the ETF to cooperate with other European Industrial Federations in cross-sectoral activities



ETF Women’s Committee Representation

the annual German speaking women’s network / rail – Nice, 2002 – 2004 the 8th of March FGTE-CFDT Women’s Conference – Paris, 2003 the 8th of March FILT CGIL Conference on women and peace – Milan, 2003 European Social Forum – London, 2003 European seminar on the gender dimension in health and safety at work – Madrid, 2004 the 10th Anniversary T&G Women’s Conference “A Voice for Equality at Work” – Eastbourne, 2005

Documents

European Transport Workers´ Federation ETF WOMEN’S COMMITTEE Report of activities 2001 - 2005 European Transport Workers Federation WOMEN’S CONFERECE Mariehamn,