JPGU UNI Congress volunteers strengthen their networking, solidarity

Publicado: 27 Noviembre 2011
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 The follow-up seminar for JPGU’s Volunteers staff members of the 3rd UNI World Congress was held in Ome, outskirts of Tokyo on 26 and 27 November 2011.

More than 40 youth and women members were brought together to share what they did after the Nagasaki Congress at their workplaces, with Sis. Margarita and Sis. Agnes from the Philippines and Bro. Fauzi from Indonesia.



In the opening, Vice President Toda highlighted the significant role of JPGU Transportation team in Nagasaki to welcome the overseas guests upon their arrival and guide them around the city, which left a very good impression in everyone and hoped that this valuable experience would be used for the further development and especially activation of JPGU’s Youth and Women activities. He also thanked for a global solidarity through UNI shown immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake.



Bro. Fauzi Ash Shiddiqie, Public Relations Officer of ASPEK Youth talked about various activities to introduce trade unionism and teach their rights at workplaces to young workers and university students. He emphasized the regular communication with members is very important.



Sis. Margarita de Guzman, Women coordinator of PEUP introduced her union and women’s issues such as supporting the Reproductive health bill, sensitivity trainings for male members and livelihood programs for economically marginalized women etc. As the PhilPost has more than half of women employees, it is imperative to convince women to actively join the union.



Sis. Agnes Pabalan, Secretary General of KKKP encouraged participants that the youth should devote its energy and talent in nation-building, good governance and social change as well as union activities. She also introduced the challenges and innovations of PhilPost.



In the afternoon, all participants discussed in small groups on what they have done since Nagasaki and can do in future to expand the organization by sharing and analyzing their current problems and proposing measures to solve them. Some pointed out the communication flow and ways from Headquarters to Regional HQs, Branches and to members could be improved. Others said that almost the same members attend union events every time and that there are usually less women participation.



Next day, each group presented inspiring ideas, suggestions and strong determinations to recruit potential members as well as to maintain and activate the current members.



Bro. Nakata who had headed the Transportation team as the then Director of International affairs at Headquarters promised to organize a follow-up occasion for the volunteers and his successor Sis. Terajima realized this idea under the strong support by the leadership. In the closing, he emphasized that it is important to explain to inactive members who may quit the union why the union is necessary and that the working conditions and benefits would be worse without a union. Organizing is not a task of union organizers only. All the participants at present are requested to reach out to more non-members and inactive members to share their great experiences in the union and in UNI events.



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