Women with Precarious labourNetherlands

Content

1. Introduction2. Workgroup international solidarity3. Example projects focus gender aspects4. Specific problems5. Flex workers6. Women and part-time work7. Women problem workplace & society in general8. Strategies to improve position women & role of TU9. Optimism

Introduction

• Gesina Hoogsteen• Living: Amsterdam, Holland• Occupy: Chemical analyst

At Albemarle Catalyst company

• 28 years FNV trade union activist

• Member of FNV workgroup Int. Solidarity

Workgroup international solidarity

• Platform of activists – from all sections of FNV trade union.

• Taking decisions to support world wide solidarity projects.

• Fundraising by – 0.7% of the total contribution trade

union members.– collective agreement (CAO) by

negotiation between employer and unions.

– Financial support by government.

Workgroup international solidarity

• Criteria to judge the proposal projects:– Obtain trade union empowerment– Gender dimension

• focus on participation women• equal treatment

– Improve position of the workers.– International exchange and support between activists– Sustainability for self supporting

Projects focus gender aspects (1)

• Organizing women network of independent trade union, Belarus

Projects focus gender aspects (2)

• Empowerment women working in free trade zone's – Sri Lanka, – Indonesië – Mexico

Projects focus gender aspects (3)

• Empowerment and organizational strengthening of women working in shrimp peelers industry, Morocco

Specific problems

• Market economy in public sector extreme introduced

• Dramatically increase of Flex workers

• People with solid job are dismissed as to be return as flex worker.

• Dismissed workers at age > 40 years don’t find decent work in relation of their skills.

Flex workers

• Dramatically increase – 2007 20%, 2011 35%

• Earn less (± 5% and even more) than colleagues permanent contract.

• Continue threat in losing work• No prospect permanent contract• No equal working conditions for

equal work like vacation rights, pensions view, job training

Women and part-time work

• Women work part-time <32 hrs, more than men.

• Employer image: women are less ambitious.

• Research shows men and women are equally ambitious, but– Men are stronger than women focused on high

salary, promotion and status

– Also cultural change important:• More balanced division of tasks between men & women in

the sphere of work & private life • Need to be widely supported and implemented.

Women problem workplace & society in general

• Men want to give more time for their children, if the work allows.

• For women works the other way around: they want work more as the reception and care for the children is properly regulated.

Women problem workplace & society in general

• Neoliberal policy (free market economy) leads that women friendly rights degrade at accelerated tempo:– It fails when it comes to facilities necessary

in order to combine work and family care.– Government cuts child care that leads to

reduce in working hours of women.

• The mother than chooses work shorter hours, instead of both parents.

Strategies to improve position women

Cultural change:1.Decision makers: In top positions of companies, profit & non profit still mainly white and man.2.More balanced division of tasks between men & women in the sphere of work & private life

Strategies to improve position women & role of Trade Union

• Trade Union issue Netherlands:– People think TU is conservative, only for grey men. – Not popular for young people to become a member. – Participation of women activists is low. – Increasingly difficult for activist to act and participate

• Surprising development in cleaning sector. – Especially migrant women playing important role to

demands attention for more wage and better working conditions.

Strategies to improve position women & role of Trade Union

• Awareness for gender aspects• Training for women:

empowerment & negotiating • Construction of permanent women

network/workgroup/commission to be preferred.

• Social dialogue with employee and government

Optimisme

Thank you