Leading Change: The ITF Women’s Maritime Leadership Programme

Abstract

Women activists in the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), face significant challenges in providing leadership for working men and women in maritime industries. But a leadership programme developed specifically for women members, can do more than provide them with the skills and tools necessary to lead within the affiliate unions of the ITF. Building women’s leadership is crucial for the strength of global unions. Union density is falling, which demands that leaders find new methods to organise and bargain to build workers’ power. The strongest unions will have women involved at all levels of their organisations. The ITF women’s leadership programme—Leading Change—prepares women activists to meet the challenge of dynamic leadership within their unions and global society. Elected and emerging women leaders have the opportunity to develop their leadership strengths and identify ways to make their unions stronger. Leading Change, developed in concert with the Harvard Trade Union Program, seeks to enable participants to plan strategic change to lead ITF affiliates, to strengthen the international trade union movement and to advance the cause of women workers across the globe.