Women trade unionists make their voices heard at UNI Europa’s 7th Women’s Conference in Belfast

On 24 March 2025, women trade unionists from across Europe gathered in Belfast for the 7th UNI Europa Women’s Conference. Under the theme “Collective Women’s Voices, Common Future”, the conference focused on gender equality in the workplace, pay transparency, occupational health and safety, and the ongoing fight against violence and harassment at work.

The conference opened with Carol Scheffer, President of UNI Europa Women’s Committee, who set the tone for the day with a rallying call to action: “Employers beware. There is an army of trade union women primed to break down barriers and build a future where gender equality in the workplace is a reality, not a dream.”

Scheffer emphasised the need to organise more women into unions, particularly young workers, to ensure fair representation and to develop the leaders of tomorrow. She paid homage to the struggles of Irish women throughout history and how their resilience has laid the groundwork for today’s fight for workplace equality.

In her address, Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, warned of the growing global backlash against diversity and equality initiatives. She pointed to major multinational corporations rolling back diversity efforts and the threat posed by political shifts in the US and Europe.

“Milei and Trump are both part of a worldwide backlash against women’s equality,” Hoffman stated, emphasising that European trade unions must remain vigilant against regressive policies that threaten the progress made in gender equality.

Mireille Herriberry from FEC-FO (France) added: “Despite progress on equality, nothing is ever guaranteed for women. The rise of the far right in Europe and around the world comes with immediate attacks on women’s rights. We must remain vigilant and stand in solidarity.”

Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa, highlighted the hard-fought victories for equal pay, including the EU Pay Transparency Directive, which has already begun to reduce the gender pay gap.

“The transparency rules in place have reduced the gender pay gap from €2.76 per hour to €2.49 – this means an additional €4,100 per year for many women. But right-wing forces are pushing back. If they succeed in limiting pay transparency to companies with over 250 employees, millions of women will be excluded from progress.”

The importance of ensuring that women’s voices are heard in collective bargaining was reinforced by multiple speakers, including Tina Bjorre Toerring from HK Privat in Denmark, who stressed that negotiating in the dark, without transparency, only reinforces existing inequalities.

Violence and harassment in the workplace were central themes of the conference. Ana Sanchez from CCOO (Spain) reiterated the urgency of implementing ILO Convention 190, which recognises workplace violence as a human rights violation.

“It is essential for trade unions to continue leading the fight to eradicate violence in the world of work. We must ensure the effective implementation of ILO Convention 190 and advocate for the signing and enforcement of the EU cross-sectoral guidelines for eliminating harassment and violence at work.”

UNI Europa Equal Opportunities Director, Amel Djemail, spoke about UNI Europa’s vision: “our pioneering steps in the battle against domestic violence by including it in labour matters, just as the ILO C190 convention indicates. We were the first federation to embark on this fight.”

The stark reality of gender-based violence was underscored by Susan Fitzgerald, Regional Secretary of UNITE the Union, who reminded attendees of the tragic statistic that 58 women have been murdered in Ireland in the last five years, making Northern Ireland’s femicide rate the second highest in Europe.

Sarah Goddard, Secretary General of AMICE, the Association of Mutual Insurers and Insurance Cooperatives in Europe sent a video message: “Employers should create a safe and secure environment for their workforce whether they are working from home whether they are working remotely to ensure that the world of work is healthy and secure.”

Another key issue discussed was occupational health and safety from a gender perspective. Erika Kähärä from PAM (Finland) called for gender-sensitive risk assessments in the workplace, addressing physical and psychosocial risks that disproportionately affect women.

“The fight for decent working conditions includes the right to fair working hours that allow for a balance between professional and personal life. It is time to demand that employers and governments implement workplace policies that protect the health and well-being of women workers.”

Veronica Fernández Méndez, Head of Equal Opportunities Department at UNI Global Union, highlighted UNI’s 3M campaign – Menstruation, Maternity, and Menopause – as a crucial step in recognising the unique challenges women face at different stages of their lives and ensuring workplaces are adapted to their needs.

Speakers from across Europe shared their perspectives on the ongoing struggles women face. Halla Gunnardottir from VR (Iceland) noted that despite progress in political representation, austerity measures are threatening family policies and early childhood education, disproportionately affecting women.

Linda Palmetzhofer from Handels (Sweden) reiterated the importance of continued trade union action: “Equality is under attack in many parts of the world, making our work more critical than ever. We must continue pushing for equal pay, fair working conditions, and gender parity at all levels of decision-making.”

As the conference came to a close, a resounding message of unity and determination echoed throughout the room. Carol Scheffer, who was re-elected in her role as President of UNI Europa Women’s Committee, wrapped up the day by reaffirming the commitment of UNI Europa Women to keep fighting for a just and equal future: “Sisters, stand strong. Stand proud. Stand together for collective women’s voices, and together we will succeed.”

The conference concluded with the adoption of strategic priorities for 2025-2029, ensuring that the fight for gender equality remains at the forefront of UNI Europa’s agenda. As the regional UNI Europa Conference continues in the following days, the voices of women trade unionists will remain central in shaping the policies and strategies that will drive real change across Europe.