LRGNEXT2021 - Thematic Session #3: Trade Union Rights | Gender & Intersectionality

The third thematic session of PSI's Local & Regional Government (LRG) Network Series is taking place on Thursday 28 October, from 1-4pm CEST.

All sessions are online. Each thematic session is composed of two segments as follows: an initial kick-off contribution by affiliates, experts and allied organisations as appropriate (30 min); a plenary discussion (30 min); and a summary of key conclusions and action points (15 min).

I. Trade union rights, employment conditions and labour relations in the LRG Sector

LRG workers deliver vital public services that are the glue of local communities and societies and cornerstones of inclusive socio-economic development.

They also are the first level of government citizens turn to when emergencies hit and represent the bulk of public sector employees worldwide. Yet their conditions are often precarious, with poverty wages, lack of training and safety equipment, while attacks on trade union rights of LRG workers are a daily reality in many countries. To deliver quality local public services to all and serve communities at their best, LRG workers must have decent working conditions and respect for trade union rights.

Welcome and opening contributions:

• Carlos Carrion-Crespo, International Labour Organization (ILO)

• Kudakwashe Munengiwa, Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU)

II. Gender and intersectionality in LRG services and workplaces

Women represent the largest share of workers in many LRG professions (e. g. community health services, child and elderly care, etc.).

Together with other vulnerable categories (e.g. disabled, LGBTI, migrant and refugee workers, etc.) they face multiple layers of discrimination and bear the brunt of the precariousness and poor working conditions of many LRG jobs. This section will look at LRG union policies and good practices to ensure human and labour rights, decent working conditions and inclusion for all LRG workers.

Welcome and opening contributions:

• Veronica Montúfar, PSI

• Maria José Lacoste, CTM, Argentina

• Mitchell Coe, UNISON, UK

• Gina McKay, CUPE, Canada

Background documents:

• Concept Note and Agenda

Resources:

Trade Union Rights in the LRG sector:

• PSI-UCLG, “Strong local public services for a safe world” UCLG – PSI Joint Statement in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020

• ILO, The Scope of Collective Bargaining in Public Administration, 2019

• PSI-UCLG, PSI-UCLG Statement at the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, 2018

• PSI, “Stop precarious work in local public services!”, 2018

• ILO, Guidelines on decent work in public emergency services, 2018

• ILO, Collective Bargaining in the Public Service in the European Union, Working Paper No. 309, 2015

• ILO, Promoting constructive approaches to labour relations in the public service, 2015

• ILO, Collective bargaining in the public service: A way forward, ILC 102nd SESSION, 2013

• ILO, Promoting Collective Bargaining and Dispute Resolution in the Public Service. An ILO training workbook, 2012

• ILO, Manual on collective bargaining and dispute resolution in the public service, 2011

Gender & Intersectionality in the LRG sector:

• CIDH, Opinion consultiva sobre derechos a la Liberdad sindical, negociacion colectiva y huelga y perspectiva de genero OC-27/21, 2021

• ANEF, CONTRAM, CLTPJ, Observaciones de la ISP a la Opinión Consultiva de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) sobre las garantías a la libertad sindical, su relación con otros derechos y aplicación desde una perspectiva de género, 2021

• Global Unions, Train the Trainers Toolkit ILO Violence and HarassmentConvention (No. 190) and Recommendation (No. 206) - Facilitator Guide and Activity Workbook, 2020

• PSI Gender Equality & Diversity Webpage

• ILO-UN Women, Addressing violence and harassment against women in the world of work, Handbook

• Global Unions, Fighting for Equality. Trade Unions and LGBTI rights, July 2021

• Global Unions LGBTI Workers Website

• PSI LGBT+ Webpage