Last week, 45 trade unionists from Finland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Turkey joined industriAll Europe’s ‘Bargaining for Equality’ workshop’* in Istanbul. The event brought together unionists, experts and practitioners, aiming to enhance trade unions’ capacities to push for more equal opportunities at the workplace for disadvantaged groups, including women, LGBTQI+, disabled workers and other minorities.
Progress for LGBTQI+ rights at the workplace
The workshop could not have been timelier, as it took place on the day that Spain’s new law which guarantees equality and non-discrimination of LGBTQI+ people at work came into force. CCOO de Industria’s Eva Madrigal presented the new, inspiring piece of legislation, highlighting that trade unions have been involved from the beginning of the process in its formulation.
The real work starts now for the Spanish unions, with the implementation through collective agreements at sectoral and company levels. Moreover, the Spanish unions are developing guides and tools to support their representatives to develop anti-harassment protocols, negotiate agreements on non-discrimination, and provide training to combat stereotypes at the workplace.
The inspiring best cases on advancing LGBTQI+ rights at the workplace was complemented by FIOM-CGIL’s Elisabetta Agricola, the winner of industriAll Europe’s Diversity at Work Award, who reminded participants about the importance of recognising all families (including gay families) in collective agreements. The Italian unions are now fighting for equal treatment for all parents in their bargaining rounds, starting with ensuring parental leave for all. Collective agreements can correct unfair practices in national legislation by granting equal rights to all.
Progress on this priority is difficult without training on combating stereotypes. The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)’s Paula Mejía highlighted that inclusive workplaces require a complete paradigm shift. Concluding good collective agreements on equal opportunities is a great win, but we need education and training for trade union reps and workers to raise awareness and ensure non-discrimination on the shop floor.
Top priority: Fighting against violence and harassment at the workplace
The workshop also touched upon the timely topic of combating violence and harassment at the workplace. This trade union priority is supported by the ongoing ratification in Member States of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Convention 190 (C190) and the EU’s current legislative process on a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Participants were inspired by Bianca Drotleff from Romania’s NGO ALEG, who explained how a small and dedicated group of only three activists managed to bring together 40 organisations, including trade unions, which helped push Romania’s government to ratify the ILO C190. Like in Spain, the real challenge in Romania also starts now, with the implementation and monitoring. Unions need to step up their work and make sure that the upcoming legislation will trickle down through collective agreements to help eradicate harassment at the workplace.
Closing the gender-pay gap
No discussion on equal opportunities would be complete without a debate on bridging the gender pay gap. The European Trade Union Confederation’s Aline Brüser untangled the key articles of the new EU Pay Transparency Directive that will support trade unions’ efforts to fight for equal pay for work of equal value. Also in this case, the work starts now with the transposition at the national level, and the implementation (including through collective agreements).
Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe’s Deputy General Secretary, said: “Bargaining for equality is a long-standing priority for industriAll Europe. With this workshop and the upcoming study, we aim to upscale our efforts to empower members to push for more equal opportunities at the workplace, for all workers, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or background.
“Real progress on equality requires a complete paradigm shift in most cases and can only be done through training for workers, trade union representatives and employers; awareness-raising campaigns; and collective agreements to ensure equal rights, and accountability in case of discrimination. We will continue to support our members in their endeavours to bargain for equality across Europe.”
* This event concludes industriAll Europe’s series of thematic workshops organised as part of our EU-funded project on ‘Bargaining for a fair and inclusive green and digital transition for a European industry with equal opportunities for all’. The final workshop will be complemented by an upcoming study by WMP Consult, commissioned by industriAll Europe, on the spreading and promotion of equality issues at the different levels of collective bargaining. The guidelines and recommendations from the study aim to encourage unionists to better bargain for equal opportunities.