A Message for

International Women’s Day

March 8, 2006

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BARBARA J. EASTERLING

Secretary-Treasurer § Communications Workers of America

President § UNI World Women’s Committee

Global labor solidarity has been a cornerstone of our movement for more than a century.  Today that solidarity is more important than ever, especially for women workers throughout the world.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2006, I submit that global solidarity is the only way workers in any country can be lifted up on a sustainable basis.

 The choice is clear-cut:  Either workers from different countries – and particularly women workers – stand side-by-side in solidarity and lift all of us higher, or we get pitted against one another in a never-ending race to the bottom

By working together in Solidarity, we strengthen the global movement for justice . . . make equality a reality for millions of women in the workforce . . . empower millions more workers with collective bargaining . . . and hasten the end of horrific practices of trafficking in women and violence against women.

Today, we have indeed come far in our quest, but we know we still have many mountains left to scale.  But I know with more certainty than ever that it is women who are the vanguard of a new worldwide labor movement, one that has equality and justice at its core . . . one that is global in its outlook . . . creative in its strategies . . . and tenacious in its tactics.

On this International Women’s Day, I know that it is the labor movement that will lead the way and make the difference for struggling women across the world . . . from sweatshop workers in China to Wal-Mart employees selling the clothes they make in Illinois . . . from women being harassed in European workplaces to mothers suffering from AIDS in Africa . . . from the moral necessity of fighting the genocide and atrocities against women that are taking place in Darfur . . . to the trafficking of women in Bosnia.

 By standing together in solidarity, we have the power to build women into the greatest organizing force in the world.  And we have the responsibility to do exactly that.

 Women comprise the majority of the workforce.  Yet women need the power of union representation as much as any group in the world because we are all-too-often the most underpaid workers in the world.

Women need the power of union representation because we are more likely to harassed and abused, disrespected and disenfranchisedAt the same time, women comprise the majority of the world’s population . . . and we must mobilize ourselves into the strongest political force for social justice and workplace change in the world.

Women are more likely to fight for social justice because we experience oppression in virtually every society on earth.  Women are more likely to support tolerance and inclusion because we experience chauvinism and bias in our daily lives. Women are more likely to value families because we are more likely to raise them.  And women are more likely to support progressive policies because we stand on the bottom of most countries’ socioeconomic ladders.

 As we celebrate the achievements of women on this International Women’s Day, let us simultaneously refocus our collective energy on the many challenges before us. Let us reaffirm our commitment to work even harder to end the dark age practices that unconscionably still exist in the 21^st century . . . trafficking in women . . . human slavery . . . and abuse, exploitation and violence against women and children.

Let us pledge anew to draw strength from one another and forge an even greater spirit of solidarity as we continue our never-ending campaign for justice and equality . . . our quest to make a difference!

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