ETUC action to promote LGBT workers’ rights in Europe Salvatore Marra, CGIL / ETUC Empowering Unions to reach key populations IAC 2014 - Melbourne, 20 July 2014
Jan 18, 2016
ETUC action to promote LGBT workers’ rights in
EuropeSalvatore Marra, CGIL / ETUC
Empowering Unions to reach key populations IAC 2014 - Melbourne, 20 July 2014
The Seville Manifesto
XI ETUC Congress (2007)
First commitment of ETUC and its (85) member organisations to address the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual workers
Awareness raising activities Action on prejudices Exchange of experiences and
best practices
EU Project ‘Extending Equality’
Trade union actions to organise and promote equal rights, respect and dignity for workers regardless of their sexual
orientation and gender identity
Partnership? ILGA –Europe
Activities? ◦ 2 parallel surveys – 1 for TUs; 1 for NGOs◦ 1 EU Conference (Jan. 2008)
Outputs?◦ Conference report ◦ Flyer
1. TUC (UK)2. CCOO & UGT (Spain)3. CGT (France)4. CGIL (Italy)
Different levels of policy action
Lobby / Consultations with national governments
Bargaining rights for LGB(T) workers
Training TU delegates Legal assistance to
individuals Work with NGOs Awareness raising Prides Sinergies with sectoral unions
5 Confederations are very active
1. UGT (Portugal)2. DGB (Germany)3. FGTB (Belgium)4. Congress (Ireland)5. FNV (The Netherlands)6. OGB (Austria)7. ZSSS (Slovenia)8. OPZZ (Poland)9. LO (Sweden)10. LO (Denmark)11. + 12 AKAVA & SAK
(Finland)
Involvement in projects, trainings, awareness
raising activities (often with NGOs)…
12 take action but not on a regular basis
Less than¼ of ETUC members is addressing LGBT policy (20 conf. out of 85)
Lack of significant action in all Eastern member states (OPZZ Poland only exception)
Gender identity seriously under addressed /misunderstood
Challenges: lack of strategy, knowledge…but also members…
Ratio increases if we take into account sectoral unions
Most of our members are not active
Flyer
LGBT rights are human rights and hence trade union issues
LGBT people are often invisible in the workplace and hence denied their rights
Discrimination against LGBT workers is no different from discrimination against other groups
Recruiting and organising LGBT workers helps to make unions strong
ETUC Resolution on LGBT rights Adopted by the Executive Committee
Examples of good trade unions’
practices
France (CGT) ‘Collectif’; National and EU meetings; ESF Project; Manual for trade union officers;
Survey (1000 workers); Awareness raising material; Example of CA http://www.cgt.fr/-Homophobie-.html
UK (TUC) Awareness raising campaigns (sport); Lobbying government on recognition of civil
partnerships; Guide for TU negotiators; Annual conference (200 delegates); Sponsors Pride London; strong synergies with federations http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/index.cfm?mins=108&minors=24
Italy (CGIL) ‘New rights section’ within the union; Awareness raising activities; Participation in
Prides; Meetings at various level; Legal counselling; Example of CA http://www.cgil.it/Organizzazione/Dipartimenti/NuoviDiritti.aspx
Spain (CCOO) Agreement between CCOO and FELTGB. It includes joint counselling, developing
training material and guidelines, awareness raising actions. Recent publication: "Affective and Sexual Diversity: an union matter”http://www.ccoo.es/csccoo/menu.do?Areas:Mujeres:Actualidad:497851
Unions good practices (I)
Ireland (ICTU) Two guides in partnership with the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network; Prides; Lobby
for civil partnerships recognition; LGBT TU group http://www.ictu.ie/equality/lgbt.html
The Netherlands (FNV) Company Pride Platform member; Project on isolation, bullying and harassment on
the shop floor; Flyers on LGBT rights; Research & Studies http://www.fnv.nl/themas/lgbt/standpunt-fnv/
Sweden (SACO, LO, TCO) ‘All Clear’ project (training 20,000 participants) http://www.frittfram.se/default.asp?
lid=1
Poland (OPZZ) LGBT Officer; Conference for TUs during Europride; Lobby; Guide for union activists
Slovenia (ZSS) ‘Partnership for equality project’ bringing together social partners and stakeholders
working together against discrimination
Sectors: Germany (Ver.di); UK (Unite, NUT, Unison); Ireland (PSEU, INTO); Poland (ZNP) …. And others….
Unions good practices (II)
• Policy commitment (Congress, Resolution)
• Informal network of LGBT trade union activists
• Dedicated webpage on ETUC website (http://www.etuc.org/r/1443)
• EU training (Paris, 2011, 22 TU officers from 11 EU countries)
• Policy papers, press releases
• EU Projects (TU practices promoting diversity and non-discrimination (http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/awareness/trade-unions/index_en.htm)
ETUC
At the last ETUC Congress in Athens (May 2011) it was agreed to continue to
work against any form of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lobby EU institution for stronger legislative framework (esp. need to tackle gender identity)
New EU training module in 2014 level
Awareness raising actions (PR, Outgames, etc.)
Supporting affiliated member organizations
Looking ahead: next year EP elections!
Perspectives for the future