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UNI Africa unions have committed to ensuring equality for women in the workplace and in the union.



As part of its mission to face the future, the 2^nd UNI Africa Conference delegates passed a resolution declaring they would increase the number of women union members, maintain their membership and promote their participation in trade union activities and in decision-making processes.

“We have to adopt the agendas of young people and women,” said acting Africa Regional Secretary Zakari Koudougou. “We must not try to impose old agendas on them. We have to focus on issues that are key to them - tackling insecure employment and winning a fair gender balance.”



Women and men from UNI’s unions called for solidarity and said it is imperative that everyone fight for gender equality, ensure that more women workers are organised and supported as trade union leaders.



UNI Africa will also focus on organising young workers and training them for union leadership.



Unions have committed to organising workers in the informal economy, many of whom are women and are also young.



Many union speakers called for an equal partnership between men and women in unions. And young workers said that they want to be involved and learn from this generation of union leaders so that they will be ready to lead the unions of tomorrow.



The conference delegates also committed to promote UNI Africa activities for youth and get them interested in union activities and in creating and running youth committees in their unions and preparing youth to lead the future UNI Africa.

“A lot of work has been done in UNI-Africa to encourage young workers and to build the profile and confidence of women workers,” Koudougou said. “But just one look around this conference room today is enough to remind us that a lot more work needs to be done before UNI-Africa and our unions fully reflect the new realities.”



For more information, see the UNI Africa blog



You can see photos here