US trade unionist urges fight against domestic violence

AN INTERNATIONAL trade unionist said in Trinidad a few days ago that no effort should be spared to fight the scourge of domestic violence against women —  both at home and in the workplace. The suggestion was made by Barbara Easterling, secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America. She is also president of the World Women’s Conference Union Network International (UNI). Easterling spoke at an education programme organised by the Banking, Insurance and General Workers’ Union.
She said UNI was conducting training programmes and public awareness campaigns, including one that persuadesd the governments of Chile, Colombia, Germany, Paraguay and Spain to issue postage stamps deploring violence against women. “Through this and other actions, we are sending a unified and strong message that this type of criminal behaviour will no longer be tolerated anywhere in the world,” Easterling said. She added: “Together, we must also take the lead in stopping economic violence against women — the process by which women are the first to be exploited, the first to be harassed, the first to be denied education and training, the first to be fired and the last to be promoted.

“It’s what you do, not who you are, that should count in the workplace, in the halls of government, in every part of our society and in every part of the world.” According to Easterling, this should also be the bottom line of every business the world over, considering that many of them see women as their primary customers and need women as a core of their workforce.