NTUC Phl Women Committee Meets, Crafts Agenda for 2019-2021

28 May 2019 – The NTUC Phl Women Committee met on 29 May 2019 in Quezon City to review what has been done and to plan for 2019-2021 activities. Women Chair Milagros Ogalinda chaired the meeting, attended by sixteen representatives from FFF, KMM, PACIWU, NATOW, NLU, NUBE, Obrero Pilipino, TOPPS, federations with existing federation women committees.

1. Update on GBV campaign
(1) The Women’s Committee (through then TUCP Women Chair Flor Cabatingan and ITUC AP Philippine affiliates Philippine Steering Committee Chair) shepherded the successful campaign for an ILO Convention, accompanied by a Recommendation, on GBV in the World of Work. Trade unions prodded Philippine government to support an ILO Convention, instead of only an ILO Recommendation, that it was contemplating. The probable adoption of the GBV Convention in the International Labor Conference in June 2019 would be a landmark decision coinciding with ILO 100th anniversary.
(2) A number of NTUC Phl federations have implemented enterprise-level activities in January-May 2019 to adopt/build company mechanisms against GBV. These federations will make reports per prepared template to assure assistance for these activities.

2. What are we doing in 2019?
– The Women’s Committee will track progress and monitor the extension of the anti-GBV campaign to the plant/enterprise level, including building company mechanisms against GBV. Those who attended NTUC Phl GBV activities in 2017-2018 will facilitate cascading information to federation Boards and union members. Gender will form part of educational programs of affiliates/locals.

– An NTUC Phl Women Committee members chat group will be created to
(1) Solve the communication/distance problem among Committee members, including participation
in activities/seminars; (2) Share information on federation women activities in regional locations;
and (3) Give updates and web information on women’s activities.
Sister Ailene Montalban will be the group Administrator.

– Filling up of vacant positions in NTUC Phl Women Committee
TOPPS Reymilyn Rose Sta. Anna (TOPPS) will function as NCR Chair, with Alternates: Chestnut Tapiador (KMM) and Arwena Lynn Bagaipo (NLU).

3. Suggested future activities (2020-2021)
The Women’s Committee will do capacity building for Women leadership, do wide-ranging information dissemination on Climate change, and spearhead Plant-level orientation on the Future of Work.