Pre-workshop Activity – Education, culture and media: proposals for sectoral focus Arising from discussions on implementing PSI’s PoA 2013 – 2017 and other approved resolutions, there is a proposal to add a new sector focus on education, culture and media. Education International (EI) is the GUF that focuses on education. PSI and EI collaborate on a number of common issues, actions and campaigns. In the Caribbean, PSI’s affiliates represent workers in education (teachers, and other education workers); media (government information/media departments and entities); culture (ministries, departments and agencies responsible for national art galleries, cultural festivals, and museums and cultural heritage sites and other forms of cultural expression). Caribbean countries are understandably proud of their various forms of cultural expression (reggae, steel pan, calypso and soca). Recent pronouncements by Minister Hanna on the role of reggae to advance social change point the way to a wider thinking on culture and cultural identity. The Caribbean sub-region’s women’s advisory committee (SUBWOC) met in Grenada in March this year and also proposed that media and culture are key components of public services and that there is a case for including them as (sub) sectors of focus in PSI’s work. There is also a strong case for them to be priority areas of work in the sub-region. The output – what you will present to the workshop A short opinion piece that identifies the most important issues (for public service sector unions) in each of these sectors, highlighting where you think PSI can add value to these issues. Your opinion piece must include a gendered perspective. In other words, use your gender lens as you research and prepare your views, comments and recommendations.
Your task – what we want you to do Write an opinion piece that highlights your views, thoughts and recommendations on what PSI and FES-PSI Cooperation Project 2011-2013 - Influencing the debates on public policy and the development agenda in the Caribbean Page 1
its affiliates can work on in these sectors, with a special focus on media and culture sectors. Obviously we are seeking your views as a trade union activist in the public service sector. To help you develop your thoughts, views, we suggest that you consider: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Who are the workers in each of these sectors? How many are women? How many are men? What are their needs as public service sector workers? What are the services that workers in these sectors provide to the public? What is the public expecting from these workers? What services do members of the public want from these workers/departments/agencies 5. Is there respect for journalistic freedom in Jamaica? 6. Is Jamaican culture owned by Jamaicans? 7. Why should your union pay particular attention to these sectors? Your presentation to the workshop You will present the opinion piece to workshop participants and the workshop co-ordinators. You will have between 7 and 10 minutes for your initial presentation (no less than 7 minutes and no more than 10 minutes). In addition to the written document (which you may circulate by e-mail), you may use slides or flipcharts as an aid. In carrying out a gender(ed) perspective, you ask three basic questions: 1. Have women been left out of consideration? If so, in what way; and how might that omission be corrected? What difference would it make to do so? 2. What is the position of boys and/or men in this situation? Implicit in this question...is a second question, Does this apply to all boys and/or men, or does it affect different men differently? 3. How are institutions and structures gendered and how might this affect the action or implementation.
October 8, 2013
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Pre-workshop Activity – Migration and development You were part of the PSI delegation to UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development and the People’s Global Action held in New York September 30 to October 4. You and two other activists from your union participated in a number of the activities organised by PSI and our partners. Congress mandated PSI to continue its programme on Migration in the Health and Social Care sectors with the inclusion of new countries to tackle challenges posed by demographics, precarious work, gender inequality, privatisation (outsourcing) and ethical recruitment. And of course there are obvious links between migration and development which Caribbean affiliates cannot ignore and in which public service sector unions in the sub-region must become more active and visible. The four key messages for PSI were: 1. The HLD must recognise that most migration is in search of decent work. 2. The HLD must place migration debates, policies and programmes within the UN normative framework. 3. The HLD must give UN organisations, especially the ILO, the key role in the institutional governance architecture. 4. The HLD must ensure real participation of civil society. Part of the lobbying work included two major events at the UN High Level Dialogue on 3-4 October. 1. A Panel event co-organised by the Global Unions and friendly governments on “Migration and Development: A Decent Work Issue” on of October inside the UN Building. Attached is the Concept Note and draft programme for your information. 2. An ‘’outside action” with our local affiliates, grassroots organisations and the international trade union delegation in the afternoon following our panel event. The output – what you will present to the workshop A short report on your participation in the various actions, highlighting your team’s experiences and the implications for your union and other public service sector unions in the sub-region. The paper/note must include a gendered perspective of the issue. In other words, use your gender lens as you prepare and write your report. Your task – what we want you to do Prepare a report on the UN HLD on Migration and Development and the key points emerging from the experience. Your report should be no less than 3 and no more than 5 pages, inclusive of a cover page. FES-PSI Cooperation Project 2011-2013 - Influencing the debates on public policy and the development agenda in the Caribbean Page 3
Your report should highlight the successes and challenges of the experience. You should particularly focus on the outcomes and how you believe this issue impacts your union and other public service sector unions in the Caribbean. We also ask you to use your gender lens to provide a gender(ed) perspective. You must also include recommendations for union action. Your presentation to the workshop You will present the report to workshop participants and the workshop co-ordinators. You will have between 10 and 12 minutes for your initial presentation (no less than 10 minutes and no more than 12 minutes). In addition to the written document (which you may circulate by e-mail), you may use slides or flipcharts as an aid. In carrying out a gender(ed) perspective, you ask three basic questions: 4. Have women been left out of consideration? If so, in what way; and how might that omission be corrected? What difference would it make to do so? 5. What is the position of boys and/or men in this situation? Implicit in this question...is a second question, Does this apply to all boys and/or men, or does it affect different men differently? 6. How are institutions and structures gendered and how might this affect the action or implementation. Resources to help you PSI web page on migration. UN site on the High Level Dialogue Global Unions’ statement to the HLD on Migration and Development Of course there are other online sources to help you prepare your report.
October 8, 2013
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Pre-workshop Activity - Precarious work PSI’s PoA (see page 25), approved in Durban in 2012, speaks to the issue of precarious work. The anecdotal evidence in Caribbean public service sector unions tells us that young workers are over-represented in precarious work. There are also disproportionate effects on women. PSI and its affiliates need to better understand this issue in the wider public service sector as well as in each of the (sub) sectors. In the sub-region, our priority (sub) sectors are: 1. Health and related services (including social services and sanitation. There is also an important link with water and sanitation) 2. Public administration (usually in the civil service) 3. Local government (in some cases, these cross-cut jobs and function in other (sub) sectors) 4. Utilities/infrastructure (electricity, water) The output – what you will present to the workshop A first draft of a briefing note that describes/explains young workers and precarious work in Barbados’ public service. The paper/note must include a gendered perspective of the issue. In other words, use your gender lens as you research and write your briefing paper/briefing note. Your task – what we want you to do Prepare a briefing paper/briefing note that essentially provides us with a picture on precarious work in public services in Barbados. Obviously, you will not have the time to do a thorough study of the entire public service. However, we do expect to get snap shots of two or three key departments, ministries or agencies, where you may have your largest membership. You may also wish to include an analysis of the impact/effects of recent budgetary measures relating to the employment of temporary workers. The briefing paper/note paper should be no less than 3 but no more than 5 pages, inclusive of a cover page.
Structure of the paper/note Your briefing paper/briefing note must include: Title - the topic or issue of the briefing paper/note Background - a summary that provides a context for the topic or issue,; definition(s)/characteristics of precarious work, with special emphasis on the public service sector; FES-PSI Cooperation Project 2011-2013 - Influencing the debates on public policy and the development agenda in the Caribbean Page 5
profile of agency, department or ministry Analysis - (you are obviously free to choose your sub-headings) describe the significant aspects of the topic or issue; courses of action taken or options available to workers and the union, including the pros and cons ; lessons learnt Include figures disaggregated by sex and by agency/department/ministry Recommendations for union action and especially the role of young workers’ groups/committees Your presentation to the workshop You will present the briefing paper to workshop participants and the workshop co-ordinators. You will have between 10 and 12 minutes for your initial presentation (no less than 10 minutes and no more than 12 minutes). In addition to the written document (which you may circulate by e-mail), you may use slides or flipcharts as an aid. In carrying out a gender(ed) perspective, you ask three basic questions: 7. Have women been left out of consideration? If so, in what way; and how might that omission be corrected? What difference would it make to do so? 8. What is the position of boys and/or men in this situation? Implicit in this question...is a second question, Does this apply to all boys and/or men, or does it affect different men differently? 9. How are institutions and structures gendered and how might this affect the action or implementation. Resources to help you In addition to PSI’s website, the outcome document from an ILO symposium, From precarious work to decent work, will provide some useful and important background information. Of course, many other documents are available online.
October 7, 2013
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Pre-workshop Activity - Precarious work PSI’s PoA, (see page 25) approved in Durban in 2012, speaks to the issue of precarious work. The anecdotal evidence in Caribbean public service sector unions tells us that young workers are over-represented in precarious work. There are also disproportionate effects on women. PSI and its affiliates need to better understand this issue in the wider public service sector as well as in each of (sub) sectors. In the sub-region, our priority (sub) sectors are: 5. Health and related services (including social services, sanitation. Here is also an important link with water and sanitation) 6. Public administration (usually in the civil service) 7. Local government (in some cases, these cross cut jobs and function in other sectors 8. Utilities/infrastructure (electricity, water) The output – what you will present to the workshop A first draft of a briefing note that describes and explains young workers and precarious work in the public service of Jamaica. The paper/note must include a gendered perspective of the issue. In other words, use your gender lens as you research and write your briefing paper/briefing note. Your task – what we want you to do Prepare a briefing paper/briefing note that essentially provides us with details on precarious work in public services in Jamaica, in which you highlight the situation from a young worker perspective. You will not have the time to do a thorough study of the entire public service, however we do expect to get snap shots of two or three key departments, ministries, agencies, where you may have your largest membership. The briefing paper/note paper should be no less than 3 but no more than 5 pages, inclusive of a cover page.
Structure of the paper/note Your briefing paper/briefing note must include: Title - the topic or issue of the briefing paper/note Background - a summary that provides a context for the topic or issue,; FES-PSI Cooperation Project 2011-2013 - Influencing the debates on public policy and the development agenda in the Caribbean Page 7
definition(s)/characteristics of precarious work, with special emphasis on the public service sector; profile of agency/department or ministry Analysis - (you are obviously free to choose your sub-headings) describe the significant aspects of the topic or issue; courses of action taken or options available to workers and the union, including the pros and cons Include figures disaggregated by sex and by agency/department/ministry Recommendations for union action and especially the role of young workers’ groups/committees Your presentation to the workshop You will present the briefing paper to workshop participants and the workshop coordinators. You will have between 10 and 12 minutes for your initial presentation (no less than 10 minutes and no more than 12 minutes). In addition to the written document (which you may circulate by e-mail), you may use slides or flipcharts as an aid. In carrying out a gender(ed) perspective, you ask three basic questions: 10. Have women been left out of consideration? If so, in what way; and how might that omission be corrected? What difference would it make to do so? 11. What is the position of boys and/or men in this situation? Implicit in this question...is a second question, Does this apply to all boys and/or men, or does it affect different men differently? 12. How are institutions and structures gendered and how might this affect the action or implementation. Resources to help you In addition to PSI’s website, the outcome document from an ILO symposium, From precarious work to decent work, will provide some useful and important background information. Of course, many other documents are available online.
October 8, 2013
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Pre-workshop Activity – Public Private Partnerships in Guyana “We intend to use this public-private partnership model in replication as we develop other major infrastructural projects.” Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh Earlier this year, the Guyana Chronicle published a series of articles on Public -Private Partnerships. Some commentators in society have, since 2010, queried the strategy and wonder the benefits for Guyana. Others claim that the opposition to PPPs( no puns intended) are simply a manifestation of some people’s desire to stifle development in the country and are in effect “ruthless attempt to stymie any developmental project that this government has attempted to undertake.” The Finance Minister has stated: “Public/private partnerships enables government to share costs, risks and the responsibility of large scale projects with private investors,” explained Minister Singh. “These partnerships help us to meet the high demand for financing as a developing nation with limited financial resources.” There are reports of various PPP projects, some in collaboration with the government of Brazil, and with the support of the IADB and other financial and development institutions. In many instances, PPPs are being used to finance infrastructure and local government projects. The trade union movement, especially in Canada, the UK and the rest of Europe have prepared and presented mounting evidence that the so-called benefits from 3Ps are a myth. The most recent publication from CUPE serves as a useful guide for all trade unionists. The output – what you will present to the workshop A short opinion piece on 3Ps in Guyana. Your opinion piece must include a gendered perspective of the issue. In other words, use your gender lens as you research and prepare your comments.
Your task – what we want you to do FES-PSI Cooperation Project 2011-2013 - Influencing the debates on public policy and the development agenda in the Caribbean Page 9
Write a short opinion piece on the practice of PPPs in Guyana. You may decide to focus on one or perhaps two cases to help illustrate your views/opinions. Obviously, you will not have the time to do a very thorough analysis. However, you will still be able to provide some much needed insight into the issue, using examples from Guyana. We suggest that you pay particular attention to CUPE’s most recent publication Asking the right questions : A guide for municipalities considering P3s as your guide. In fact, the section on 10 essential questions is quite useful to you and we highly recommend that you use these as a guide for your opinion piece. We also ask you to use your gender lens to provide a gender(ed) perspective. We also urge you to include in your opinion piece, recommendations for union action. Your presentation to the workshop You will present the report to workshop participants and the workshop co-ordinators. You will have between 10 and 12 minutes for your initial presentation (no less than 10 minutes and no more than 12 minutes). In addition to the written document (which you may circulate by e-mail), you may use slides or flipcharts as an aid. In carrying out a gender(ed) perspective, you ask three basic questions: 1. Have women been left out of consideration? If so, in what way; and how might that omission be corrected? What difference would it make to do so? 2. What is the position of boys and/or men in this situation? Implicit in this question...is a second question, Does this apply to all boys and/or men, or does it affect different men differently? 3. How are institutions and structures gendered and how might this affect the action or implementation. Resources to help you CUPE on PPPs The danger of P3s European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) web page on PPPs Of course there are many other online sources that you can search.
October 8, 2013
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Pre-workshop Activity – Sustainable development: Transitioning to a green economy The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) prepared a Caribbean synthesis report for the 3rd international conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The conference will be held in Samoa in 2014. The Green economy in the Caribbean is one of the focus areas in the report. “The islands of the Caribbean have an abundance of renewable energy resources that afford them the base for a green economy. Moreover, the impacts of climate change and the very high costs of energy (amongst the highest in the world) are also powerful incentives for such a transition. A broader policy approach would be required however, to make the shift a reality, to prepare the regional private sector as well as to assess what potential impacts the transition will have on the Caribbean labour force, especially having regard to the sectors in which jobs will be both lost and created and what that will mean for the large numbers of female breadwinners in Caribbean SIDS. UNEP has identified 10 sectors that are central to the shift to a green economy (see page 39). UNEP also produced a synthesis report on green economy issues with emphasis on SIDS that focused on 5 thematic areas.” Trade unions, sustainable development and Rio +20 In June 2012, the ITUC co-ordinated the Global Unions’ presence at the Rio +20 conference. The 3 trade union demands are: 1. Green and decent jobs 2. Social protection floor 3. Financial transaction tax (FTT) See http://www.ituc-csi.org/rio-20 for more information. These issues are also very much linked to trade union views and priorities on the Post-2015 development agenda
The output – what you will present to the workshop FES-PSI Cooperation Project 2011-2013 - Influencing the debates on public policy and the development agenda in the Caribbean Page 11
A first draft of an opinion piece giving a trade union perspective on green economy issues, using UNEP’s report as a basis for your comments. Of course your work experience in environmental health and the effects/impact of climate change in Barbados will be invaluable in this regard. It is also important that you include recommendations for trade union action. We also expect you to use your gender lens as you give your views and opinions. Your task – what we want you to do Write an opinion piece, from a trade union perspective, on UNEP’s synthesis report on green economy issues with emphasis on SIDS. In essence you are critiquing the document. In your opinion piece, we also expect you to make recommendations for union action (at national and regional levels). The opinion piece should be no less than 3 but no more than 5 pages, inclusive of a cover page. Your presentation to the workshop You will present your opinion piece/comments to workshop participants and the coordinators. You will have between 10 and 12 minutes for your initial presentation (no less than 10 minutes and no more than 12 minutes). In addition to the written document (which you may circulate by e-mail), you may use slides or flipcharts as an aid. In carrying out a gender(ed) perspective, you ask three basic questions: 13. Have women been left out of consideration? If so, in what way; and how might that omission be corrected? What difference would it make to do so? 14. What is the position of boys and/or men in this situation? Implicit in this question...is a second question, Does this apply to all boys and/or men, or does it affect different men differently? 15. How are institutions and structures gendered and how might this affect the action or implementation. Other resources, references to help you Report to ILC 2013 “Sustainable development, decent work and green jobs” Green economy key to advancing sustainable development agenda in Barbados Barbados a leader in establishing a green economy Of course, many other documents are available online.
October 7, 2013
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