Sintraelecol Women Develop Leadership Skills

Forty-five women, members of Sintraelecol, the electricity workers’ union, attended this national seminar from all over the country. The following themes were discussed in detail at the workshop:

• Leadership as a basic tool for the women in Colombia, and the women in the electricity industry in particular, to have access to the different areas and gain space where they can be protagonists and play the role that they are entitled to.
• The understanding that self-esteem is key to being able to have a place in leadership in trade unions, in society and in politics
• Collective bargaining as the basis for women to achieve their specific demands, to be able to continue being visible, to get their demands through and to make examples and show victories in historical processes.
• Concrete experiences were shared on the daily struggles of women in the electricity sector.
• Emphasis was placed on the significance of the historic role played by industrial trade unionism, its importance in the fight for better living and working conditions and it’s conquering of power as a partner and a negotiator.
• The topic of a healthy working environment was raised as well as the golden rules on keeping the working environment healthy and respectful.
• Participation in politics from a gender perspective. How women can gain gender identity in their daily actions to be involved in politics and play the role of protagonists that they are called upon to play in society and the trade union movement.
• The issue of women’s inequality at work was also addressed as well as the solidarity of the women workers in the conflict at Central Hidro Eléctrica de Caldas CHEC, which is in the process of negotiation.
• Finally a work program was established, and conclusions were drawn.

Sintraelecol’s national executive was also present and the Caldas region organized the meeting. IndustriALL was present, and Sintraelecol’s women’s officer Beatriz conducted the meeting. Praise was given to industriALL for the work that has been done on gender.