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Promoting Gender Equality - An ILO Resource Kit for Trade Unions

Unions must take steps to overcome the barriers to female participation and to ensure that women are visible and active in all aspects of union life - as members, activists and leaders. If trade unions are to champion gender equality in employment as a basic human and workers' right, then first and foremost they have to show that equality is an integral part of their own internal policies and structures. Unions cannot be credible unless women are adequately represented and fully involved in all union structures and business.

It is important that trade unions formulate specific statements of policy on gender equality. Such statements could be in the form of resolutions and policy documents adopted by congresses or executive boards, special publications, position papers, equality plans, guidelines on gender, positive action programmes. A policy statement can serve as a benchmark for future union action. Implementation of the policy on gender equality can be effective only when treated as a mainstream union issue rather than a "women only" issue.

Contents

• Introduction
• Booklet 1 Promoting gender equality within unions
• Booklet 2 - Promoting gender equality through collective bargaining
• Booklet 3 - The issues and guidelines for gender equality bargaining
• Booklet 4. Organizing the unorganized: informal economy and other unprotected workers
• Booklet 5 - Organizing in Diversity - Organizing in Diversity
• Booklet 6 - Alliances and Solidarity to Promote Women Workers' Rights