IRAQ

The Struggle for Working Women’s Rights: Iraqi Women Tell Their Stories   On Saturday July 12, 2008, six Iraqi women trade unionists will give a panel discussion on labor rights and women’s rights in Iraq, which will be open to the participants of the Summer School for Union Women as well as to the broader St Louis community.  This event aims to involve American trade unionists and women and men from the community in the struggle to promote and defend the rights of Iraqi workers.  The panel discussion will begin with presentations from selected members (2 or 3) of the panel to share their diverse experiences fighting for the rights of women and workers in Iraq, including how their unions are fighting the Iraqi government’s campaign against freedom of association and the right to organize as well as what it means to be a working woman and trade unionist in Iraq.  The discussion will then be opened up for a question and answer session with the entire delegation, in which Iraqi and American union and community activists exchange experience.    The Iraqi delegation includes women from the major labor federations of Iraq: The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU), the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW), the Kurdistan General Workers Syndicate Union (KGWSU), the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI), and the Iraqi Kurdistan Workers Syndicate Union (IKWSU).  These women work in a variety of sectors including tourism, oil, electricity, and journalism and all hold elected or appointed leadership positions in their unions. In addition, they are active as labor educators and Women’s Affairs Officers in their unions.  For example, one member of the delegation is the only female President of a union in Iraq, who also serves on the executive board of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).

CENTRAL AMERICA

STITCH  is a network of women in Central America and the United States organizing for economic justice for women workers and stronger international labor solidarity.  STITCH's programs equip women with the essential leadership skills to fight for human and economic rights and bring together the issues and strategies of women from both regions to build global solidarity and include their perspectives in debates around women’s rights, labor rights, immigration, and trade policies. In Central America, STITCH  supports women organizing new unions or fighting for leadership positions within existing unions. STITCH has provided trainings, strategy and support to thousands of women workers throughout Central America.  STITCH works in the maquila and banana sectors in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador.  In 2004, STITCH began a process to create a collaborative women's leadership training manual to expand our training capacity and systemize our work. In 2008, STITCH will begin using the completed training curriculum in country-wide and regional training schools for union women. We have had a continuous, on-the-ground staff presence since January 2000.     By building connections between regions, STITCH  strengthens both movements for women and labor rights.  Our delegations have successfully connected union women, advocates, and students of both regions.  STITCH also sponsors Central American workers to present at North American conferences and on regional tours to educate about the impact of trade policies and U.S. corporate and consumer behavior.   In the United States, STITCH's  work focuses on immigrant women, workers. In 2007, STITCH began this project by interviewing immigrant women to discover their specific needs in the workplace. STITCH published a fully bi-lingual book on immigrant women's lives. In 2008, STITCH will meet these identified needs by holding trainings for immigrant women (using methods developed in Central America,) educating unions and worker centers, and providing a voice for women during debates on immigrant rights.  In addition, STITCH works with women throughout the labor movement to have a larger discussion on the issues of immigration and globalization, especially with union women of color.   STITCH sponsored a speaker from Guatemala to attend the St. Louis Union School to facilitate the exchange of ideas between union women of the Midwest and Central America.