Transcript Document

ETUC and ILGA-Europe
Extending Equality
Role of Trades Unions in Extending
LGBT Equality in the Workplace.
January 2008
Overview
• Very important step this co-operation
between ETUC and ILGA-Europe
• Appreciate that ETUC is hosting this
conference as part of our partnership in
advancing Equality in the Workplace.
• Look forward to seeing the outcomes from
the conference in terms of next steps at
national, regional, local and branch levels
equality
• Solidarity and working together a core
principle of the work of trades unions
• Key principle of ILGA-Europe - to have
equality for all, and within that equality for
lgbt people.
• Using international human rights
instruments, the indivisibility of rights and
the nonsense that a hierarchy of rights
means
Laws and Realities
• While there are laws at EU level – the
2000/78 anti-discrimination employment
directive which protects against
discrimination on the ground of sexual
orientation
• Re-cast gender directive of 2006/54 which
protects against discrimination on the
ground of gender identity
• Disparity between law and lived realities
Realities
• Still a high level of discrimination in the
workplace on grounds of s.o.g.i.
• Individuals taking court cases at national
level and progressing to European level
• Conferences and publications to increase
awareness of the rights
• Transnational projects
• Trades Unions working to promote and
protect workers’ rights – negotiations…
Realities
• Education International, Public Service
International, National level Unions
• International Workers Out conferences
since 1998, and again in 2002, 2006 in
Montreal and scheduled for Copenhagen
2009
• LGBT NGO’s and Trades Unionists
organising on the issues
• Results from the survey of this project later
this morning.
• People learning form each other in
transnational projects or through
networking
• Need to think about how to work with each
other into the future so as to make the
rights more of a reality
Counter forces in the reality
• Negative economic environment
• Negative political environment
• Hierarchy of when to address what issues
– notion of economic rights and social
rights in competition
• Some Trades Unions in some European
countries aren’t allies for equality of lgbt
people
Issues to address in future work
• In some countries the role of Trades
Unions is not experienced as supportive
• The question of the recognition of same
sex families becomes strongly linked to
employment when many employment
terms and conditions are denied lgbt
people because of lack of recognition of
families not based on man/woman
• Proposed equality directive in areas
outside employment…this is necessary for
the full enjoyment of equality in society
• Hate crimes and homophobic speech,
behaviours and attitudes need to be
addressed.
• Having the possibility to enjoy rights
requires a culture that supports equality
Human rights of all and challenges
• Negative attitudes, stereotypes and
prejudices that lead to discrimination
• Need to think about a framework
agreement similar to that for Race on Hate
so as to address the violence that is
directed to older people, people with
disabilities, lgbt people and people of
differing religions as well as ethnic groups
Other opportunities and tools
• ILO – and using international human rights
stands and especially those of
employment
• European Social Charter
• Social Dialogue and the role of Social
Partners in discussions and negotiations
at national and European levels –
especially on the debate on Social Europe,
next equality legislation
• Discussions on social inclusion and
mechanisms to incorporate antidiscrimination and equality into this
• Social Protection issues
• Health – including health and safety, and
especially bullying – link to homophobia in
society
• Education – curricula and school culture
and training of professionals.
Working together
• TU and LGBT NGO’s at local, regional and
national levels, as well as at European
level
• Working with materials and expertise of
each other to raise issues and awareness
• Ni neart go cur le cheile - there’s no
strength until we work together..or our
strength is when we work together.
• A great deal as been done and there is a
lot more to do! Tosach ana-mhaith deanta
– ach nil ach leath na h-oibre deanta!
• Working together we can make it happen
that working for equality for all will make
for a society based on true equality