From: http://www.aapmedianet.com.au/ Women's Day Call To Stop Violence ******************************************************** STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 HRS MONDAY 8TH MARCH 1999 ******************************************************** SYDNEY, 8 March 1999 / MediaNet International-AsiaNet /--Unions representing 15 million members worldwide today urged an end to violence against women. Their call came on International Women's Day (March 8th). Violence affects the lives of millions of women around the globe, warned four international trade union federations - FIET, the Communications International, the International Graphical Federation and the Media and Entertainments International. FIET - which represents clerical and professional staff - is due to hold its World Women's Conference in Sydney Town Hall on March 12 and 13. The four internationals are also voting this year on a merger to create UNI - Union Network International - which would link together 800 unions, the largest such grouping in the world. "Violence against women cuts across classes and does not respect culture, race, religion, nationality or ethnic origin," said Renata Cs�rgits, President of FIET's Working Women's Group. A recent report by the International Labour Organisation found that violence at work, for example, is a global problem with many women at risk because they are often in high risk occupations like bank and shop workers, teachers, social workers and nurses or working alone in jobs like cleaning. They are also often the first victims of civil war and crime. The unions are to step up their campaign to eliminate violence against women through global education programmes. "Much work is already being done by affiliated unions to raise awareness of this universal scourge and we salute that today." The campaign will reach out to the 250 women expected at FIET's 6th World Women's Conference. The conference theme is "Women organising for equality in the 21st century" with the focus on new forms of working and strategies to recruit and organise women in these areas to ensure equality. Part time, casual, seasonal, temporary and contract working, telework and the expansion of work outside the formal economy are all rapidly expanding. "Unions must further develop campaigns to target these forms of work, where we find a high concentration of women and young people," said Renata. FIET covers the services sector - including commerce, finance and property services - and already represents more than six million women members worldwide. "For unions to survive in the 21st century, changes must take place at all levels within the labour movement with more women activists and union leaders." * FIET has six Australian affiliates: the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers (APESMA); the Australian Services Union (ASU); the Finance Sector Union of Australia (FSU); the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU); the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) and the Australian Hairdressers and Wigmakers and Hairworkers Employees' Federation (AHWHEF). For further information call: Cathy Sanchez, FIET Equal Rights, 0041 79 202 1926 (mobile) Philip Jennings, FIET General Secretary, 0041 79 200 6858 (mobile) Noel Howell, FIET Press Officer, 0041 79 446 2703 (mobile) NOTE: Image of Philip Jennings and logo of FIET available at http: //aapimage.aap.com.au -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
