ITC-ILO/ACTRAV Course A Trade Union Training for Women Union Leaders on Computer Communications & Networking Aug 2007, Singapore Workshop Orientation

Background  The world of work is changing – due to forces of Globalization, Economic Liberalization, Privatization, advancements in IT & changing role of ‘State’;  The new environment is posing many challenges before the trade union movement – especially in the ways the unions function, communicate, organize & protect workers rights;  Use of IT & IT enabled processes poses difficulties as well as opportunities for trade unions – for organizing, networking, workers education & training and promoting workers rights;

Background  In this workshop, we will focus on understanding how Information Technology (IT) can be used for strengthening trade union movement – in particular, we will focus our discussions on the use of IT for-  Bringing unions together in national, regional & global networks – promotion of Solidarity Networks,  Promoting TU education, organizing activities, online campaigns,  Improving TU communications  Methodology: Experience sharing & learning hands- on the use of SoliComm communication system

What is SoliComm?  SoliComm is communications and search system designed especially for unions by Actrav-Turin, which provides , lists services, computer conferencing, web site hosting, web search & e-library facilities.  SoliComm is a free - open source software  & it can be used also for promoting & building networks among unions, conducting TU education activities and improving TU communications

Why Women Union Leaders? Unions have been taking a number of initiatives to organize & integrate women in the labour movement; Unions have been taking a number of initiatives to organize & integrate women in the labour movement; Many have set up national & regional women’s committees within the union structures; Many have set up national & regional women’s committees within the union structures; But on the whole, the leadership, communications & networking among the women in the labour movement remains weak; But on the whole, the leadership, communications & networking among the women in the labour movement remains weak; Need for promoting leadership & technical capacities among the women unionists to enable them to play their roles more effectively in the labour movement. Need for promoting leadership & technical capacities among the women unionists to enable them to play their roles more effectively in the labour movement.

Main Objectives Identify main issues & difficulties faced by women unionists in their trade union work and possible solutions; Identify main issues & difficulties faced by women unionists in their trade union work and possible solutions; Train women unionists in the use SoliComm for online communications, conferencing, networking & in TU education and training activities; Train women unionists in the use SoliComm for online communications, conferencing, networking & in TU education and training activities; Build participants ability to teach SoliComm to other TUs nationally with a view to building a national network among the unions for promotion of workers’ interests & trade union rights Build participants ability to teach SoliComm to other TUs nationally with a view to building a national network among the unions for promotion of workers’ interests & trade union rights Improve communications and networking among the women trade union representatives in the region; Improve communications and networking among the women trade union representatives in the region;

Key Issues to be discussed Changing world of work in this era of Globalization & key issues before the TUs Changing world of work in this era of Globalization & key issues before the TUs Use of information technology within the trade unions Use of information technology within the trade unions Introduction to Open Source ‘free’ software Introduction to Open Source ‘free’ software SoliComm computer conferencing system SoliComm computer conferencing system Use of SoliComm for promoting networks of unions/unionists/trade union educators Use of SoliComm for promoting networks of unions/unionists/trade union educators Action Plan for building TU networks Action Plan for building TU networks Role of ITUC-APRO in promoting solidarity networks among TUs in Asia-Pacific Role of ITUC-APRO in promoting solidarity networks among TUs in Asia-Pacific

Evaluation  End of the Course Evaluation  Feedback is welcome on daily-basis

* Any Questions?