Gender Justice in Trade Unions

Time for action is indeed, NOW!

Gender disparities and limited representation of young workers in trade unions pose challenges to the effectiveness of these organizations. Women often face barriers to assuming leadership roles, and young workers lack opportunities to engage meaningfully in union activities. This leads to an unbalanced representation, inhibiting the unions' ability to address diverse concerns and advocate for the rights of all workers.

By empowering women and young workers with leadership skills, understanding of gender dynamics, and advocacy techniques, the Trade Union Gender and Leadership Training addressed the need for a more inclusive and representative trade union movement.  The training was aimed at fostering an environment where diverse voices are heard, ensuring equitable labor practices and enhancing the impact of trade unions.

The time for action is indeed, NOW! Through a two-day interactive program featuring a blend of expert-led presentations, group discussions, role-playing exercises, and case studies. The Gender Justice Leadership Training covered thematic areas on; leadership development, gender dynamics, negotiation skills, and advocacy strategies. The Peer-to-peer learning and mentoring was utilised to ensure a supportive and engaging learning atmosphere. The participants and facilitators of the training agreed to have Pre and post-training assessments, so as to measure participants' progress on the emprovement of participation of women and the youth. The activity took place from the 21st September to the 22nd September 2023 and was organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Zambia Office in partnership with the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).