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