UNI IWD - Powerful Women Powerful Women Uni IWD Powerful Women Uni IWD
Christy Hoffman

Christy Hoffman
General Secretary, UNI Global Union

Without a union voice, women face discrimination in countless ways, big and small. And the right to organise -without fear- is central to women’s equality.

Patricia Nyman

Patricia Nyman
SACCAWU - South Africa

My story of activism goes back to the days of apartheid and heightened struggles in 1976, when we as youth took to the streets, this led me to become involved in community and youth organizations.

Theresa Sands-Mortimer

Theresa Sands-Mortimer
Bahamas Financial Services Union

It was in early 2000 that the then Barclays Bank PLC decided that they wanted to leave the Caribbean. The staff in the Bahamas was not unionized.

Erika Kähärä

Erika Kähärä
PAM, Finland

Taking care of people being safe, keeping healthy and being treated fairly irrelevant of their gender, age or other personal features has been my passion all of my working life.

Carol Scheffer

Carol Scheffer
CWU Ireland

I am a National Officer at the Communications Workers’ Union Ireland (CWU) which represents members in the Postal, Telecommunications, Tech, and Call centre sectors.

Najwa Lekhaila

Najwa Lekhaila
UMT Morocco

Since I was young, I have been inspired by women who have fought for equality and dignity. I am passionate about social justice and women's rights.

Claude Lambrechts

Claude Lambrechts
CNE Belgium

After my studies in the field of social aid, with a focus on collective action, I was lucky enough to be hired in 1986 as an animator in a permanent education movement for women and to discover the aspirations and problems encountered by different generations.

Cristiane do Nascimento

Cristiane do Nascimento
Sintetel/Fenattel, Brazi

I joined the union in 1993, when I was hired at Telefonica. I worked in the company's head office, where important information circulated first hand.

Mio Susai

Mio Susai
FNIU, Japan

The reasons why I became a union officer and message to the future women union officers.

Marie Buard

Marie Buard
F3C CFDT France

I am Marie Buard, Deputy General Secretary of the Communication, Consulting and Culture Federation of the CFDT confederation, the largest union in France.

Milagro Pau

Milagro Pau
AEBU - Uruguay

I started my militancy at the age of 15 as a student activist for the rights of students in the middle of the Uruguayan dictatorship.

Neiva Ribeiro

Neiva Ribeiro
CONTRAF/CUT, Brazil

I have been a banker since I was 18 and I have been in the union movement as a leader since 2000.

Ann Selin

Ann Selin
Service Union United PAM, Finland

I had no plans for the future when I left middle school at the age of 15, so I got a job at Liikeliitto, the predecessor of PAM, because they needed a messenger for the summer.

Denise Mcguire

Denise Mcguire
Prospect UK

The great thing about being a unionist is that it’s all about teamwork – so all the achievements are a joint effort

Arlette Puraye
cinta negra

Arlette Puraye
CNE Belgium.

In addition of saying “outrage yourself”, I would say engage!

Louise Net

Louise Net
UNI Africa Women´s

Unity is strength no matter in which corner of the world yo work in we feel your pain.

Lynn Bue

Lynn Bue
CUPW Canada

Women must be part of the strength and brains of the union.

Tamami Uda

Tamami Uda
Federation of Information and Communication Technology Service Workers. Japan.

The Trade Union experience has really broadened my outlook.

Therese Bryant

Therese Bryant
SDA Australia

Unions give workers, including women, a voice. Have your voice heard and make work a better place. The team needs You!

Ana Sánchez

Ana Sánchez
FSC CCOO ESPAÑA

After having worked in several companies, in 1993 I became an employee at the company I’m presently working in. By then, unionization was not possible at the company, because our guarantees and our personal life were in the hands of our boss.

Therese Bryant

Dipa Bharadwaj
Trade union leader. Nepal

I am a trade union leader. My first engagement in the trade union was not at all planned. After getting an opportunity to participate in the trade union training representing my union, , I started looking at the worker’s issues especially women...

Pearl Sawyer

Pearl Sawyer
UFCW Canada

My story of activism goes back more than 35 years to when I was working in a meat packing plant. We used to have seasonal slowdowns and I would get laid off until things picked-up again. However, for the men in the plant, it was a different story. While I was out of work, I discovered that...

Tene Tougma

Tene Tougma
FESBACI Burkina Faso

My career in the union, FESBACI - Federation of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, Trade and Industry of Burkina Faso, began in July 1978 when I started to work as a union activist. I was later elected as President of the Women's Committee of...

Adriana Rosenzvaig

Adriana Rosenzvaig
Union leader. Argentina

Participating in a collective struggle has given me the opportunity to transcend my own individuality, to develop my self-esteem and to join my efforts to those of others in order to demand a world that is fairer and founded on the principle of solidarity.