What is working life like for women (and men) on the Bucharest Metro? How does it compare to our situation on London Underground? In Bucharest with the ETF Women's Committee, I spoke with Metro workers and gathered some facts …
Updates on ongoing work
WHAT IS THE ETF?
The European Transport Workers’ Federation, linking transport trade unions across Europe. RMT is one of several UK affiliates.
Its Women’s Committee includes nominees from various countries and sectors. I am a member of the Committee for the term 2013-2017.
PRIORITY CAMPAIGN 1 – VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TRANSPORT WORKERS
Despite having no funding for this campaign, we have been able to take a couple of useful initiatives:
This is the speech I gave in moving RMT's motion to TUC Women's Conference about sexual assault on stations and trains. TSSA submitted an amendment which RMT opposed. The amendment was defeated and the motion passed.
One of our elected delegates is not here.
BELGIUM
Women trade unionists are supporting the Justice for Jimena Lopez campaign and are increasing the representation of women within the union.
SPAIN
DOCKS / PORTS
The Social Dialogue Committee for Ports had adopted a document about women's employment, including recruitment and working conditions for women. Women's employment has increased as technology has led to much port work becoming less physical.
Now the document has been adopted, it needs to be implemented. The strategy is based on raising awareness and changing the image of port work rather than on imposing quotas. Some trade unions have objected to this initiative, as they see women as "taking men's jobs".
The European Transport Workers' Federation's Women's Committee meets twice per year to discuss issues facing women transport workers across Europe and to drive forward the programme of work agreed by the four-yearly ETF Women's Conference.
WOMEN'S HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK