2013

TIE Netherlands, several Turkish LGBT organisations (mainly KAOS-GL) and democratic trade union organisations, and the Dutch trade union Abvakabo were involved in a project to exchange experiences and encourage Turkish trade unions to pick up LGBT policies. Several meetings took place in 2012 and 2013. Because of the political situation in Turkey, this exchange project was more intense and exhaustive than planned. A summary of the outcome is to be published soon and will be available here.

Since the beginning of 2013, the French trade union confederation CGT (= Confédération Générale du Travail) intensified its policies and activities around LGBT rights, especially after the protests of conservative catholic and other groups against the opening of marriage for same-sex couples. The CGT organised several regional conferences, an international conference, enhanced its presence at Pride marches and published a DVD on LGBT rights and the role of trade unions (which can also be watched on-line here.

On International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, May 17th, the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation, Guy Ryder, says the ILO is stepping up efforts to eradicate workplace discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. Read his statement here.

In June, 2013, the American branch of Public Services International (PSI) organised a kick-off meeting for an American regional LGBT committee in PSI, in São Paulo. Representatives from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Argentina were present. Representatives from the Netherlands exchanged experiences from the European backgrounds.

In July 2013, the LGBT Forum, a co-operation between Public Services International (PSI) and Education International (EI), was back on the agenda in a meeting in Brussels. Read more here.

In July and August, the conference linked up with the OutGames in Antwerp, Belgium, included a trade union panel and several trade union issues. Read information about the speakers at the conference and watch some pictures or read the closing document here.