Female unionists complain about poor representation

09/01/2007

Women trade unionists from Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria met in Algiers this week to discuss women involvement in trade unions. They blamed poor female representation on patriarchal Maghrebian societies.

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers -- 09/01/07

[Getty Images] Maghreb women trade union members say they are poorly represented.

A meeting of women trade unionists in Algiers on Monday (January 8th) denounced the poor female representation in Maghreb trade unions, attributing it to patriarchal Maghreb societies.

The meeting, organised by the Arab Maghreb Workers' Union (USTMA) in conjunction with the Norwegian trade unions congress, focused on women's involvement in trade unions, and aimed to work out an action plan to empower women unionists.

Samia Ourtilane, a member of the general union of Algerian workers (UGTA), said that although Maghrebian unions "have been founded on the principles of democracy and equality", they have still not managed to "free themselves from a cultural heritage which enshrines the inferiority of women in patriarchal societies".

Some trade unionists attending the conference called for laws and mechanisms based on "positive discrimination" to introduce equality between men and women at the heart of the unions.

UGTA Co-ordinator Samia Salhi stressed that this meeting examined "the problems standing in the way of women trades unionists rising to positions of responsibility with a view to help solve problems encountered by working women in the Arab Maghreb. The female trade unionists will not be able to play a role unless there is a political will to enable her to work freely and democratically alongside men to promote her socio-professional status."

Some male unionists charged that it is up to women to increase their participation. USTMA Assistant Secretary-General in charge of training Abou Bakr Darsi said that Maghrebian women have to redouble their efforts to find their way into the leadership of the union organisations.

He pointed out that the role of the Maghrebian woman in the various areas of life and contribution to the economy alongside men is now clear for all to see. This reality, however, contrasts with "the absence of women from the various centres of decision-making, especially within the unions".

This quest will only be successful, according to Abdelwahab Tabtab, representative of the Arab work organisation (OAT) and director of the Arab labour institute, with more democracy at the heart of Arab union organisations, which would reinforce the importance of the position of women in trade unions, given that they are so massively represented among the working population.

UGTA National secretary for external relations, Boudjamaa Rahma, called on women in Maghreb countries to "assume a more active role to improve their socio-professional situation".

"We must live up to the aspirations of the working woman and offer her the place she deserves in the heart of society," he said, addressing the meeting. "With all the best will in the world, male trade unionists would never be able to defend women's rights better than the women themselves."