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UNI Americas 8 of March, 2011: International Women’s Day
Published: 8 March 2011
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Panama City. No matter where they are, in industrialized countries or the undeveloped, the women worldwide celebrate March 8 as a historic date marked by the struggles of those who preceded us. Those combative women who gave their own lives in demand, at that moment, for better working conditions, for better social conditions, for fair working hours, and also the right to vote. Because of the sacrifice of our predecessors, the twenty-first century women enjoy the achievements and benefits such as politics, social and employment. Nowadays, 100 years later, the statistics reveal that over 40% of the global workforce is represented by women; the same force that drives the global economy reveals the progress achieved. However, despite these advances we still do not enjoy real gender equality. Notwithstanding the significant progress in areas such as education, technology, and science, the same statistics stress that gender disparities affect particularly women and youth; these inequalities are manifested in forms like precarious jobs, low wages and without social protection. Women have gained greater access to education and academic preparation, but this does not mean they have access to a full employment and decent work. Market liberalization and globalization have increased social inequality. Several studies have shown that, in relation to gender, globalization has further extended these discriminations; it is a fact that more women and young people are integrated into the labor market, nevertheless the disparity and inequities between the genders has been maintained and in some cases has increased. The trade union movement is called to face these changes and inequities of global order, in order to act to reverse this phenomenon. In that sense, the Breaking Through Plan of UNI Global Union, reaffirmed at the 3rd World Congress in Nagasaki in 2010 by Resolution No. 2 on the representation of women, its commitment to promoting gender equality and non-discrimination, and promoting participation and representation of youth and women in all decision-making structures at the global, regional and sectoral levels, and in the same direction, UNI Global Union has made a call to all its affiliate unions to draw up action plans for structuring the work on gender equality in their organizations. On this special day, UNI Americas and the Regional Women's Committee want to join the trade union organizations in our region and the world, to celebrate the occasion of this memorable date and commemorate the March 8, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. Let’s celebrate together the successes, and renovate our commitment to fight, because there is still much to be done. While there are social disparities in this world, we all renew our strength to continue the struggle, and together, in equal conditions and rights can enjoy of decent work, which is an essential condition for all human being lives a decent life. Briceida González Regional Coordinator UNI Americas Women briceida.gonzalez@uniglobalunion.org |
