News

The first women seminar for the Federation of National Postal Organizations (FNPO), one of the affiliates in the UNI Post & Logistics sector was held successfully in Barabazar Head Post Office in Kolkata, India on 2 – 4 April 2008 with 30 active women in the India Post, sponsored by Japan Post Group Union. The objectives of the seminar was for women activists to be aware of the changes and problems caused by globalization, to learn UNI Global Union movement and to network among women in the Post as well as in other sectors to share their concerns and experiences.

Brother D. Theagarajan, Secretary General of FNPO explained the history from the Federation’s creation to the struggles over the decades. “The FNPO needs women’s power now in this critical time” he appealed to women colleagues highlighting the importance of the current union verification process and the following recognition by the Post.

Sister Yoko Ogawa, Coordinator of UNI-Apro Women & Youth, made a presentation on the UNI Global Union, especially focusing on its roles and activities in the Asia Pacific Region and in India. She also introduced them on the UNI-Apro Women activities and its Action Plan and invited participants to actively join UNI-Apro’s women activities.



“We have to change to meet the changing environment and increasing customers’ demands” Mr. Subhashish Sarkar, Chief Post Master General, West Bengal Circle greeted and encouraged them at the seminar.

“Being a good leader, you must be a good listener.” Sister Anjali Bedekar, President of UNI Indian Liaison Council Women Committee explained how to reach out members through the effective communication and organize more women by sharing the similar situation faced by other Indian women, and hoped to be able to overcome these problems by learning from each other.

After the group work exercise, each group made presentations on their analysis. Main obstacles to prevent women from more active participation to union activities were women’s shyness and indifference as well as lack of supports and understanding from males and families and male dominated culture and society. They also listed challenges facing the India Post and postal employees such as the possible privatization, increasing work load, insufficient modern facilities and services quality to be improved etc. Finally they concluded that the women need to be given more knowledge, training on trade union, more actively involved in the union activities and get more women organized into union to overcome these problems. “Although it may take some time, women can start from a small thing to change.”