Women workers organisers in Asia have much in common with each other in their work of organising women workers. In each locality, organisers have developed their own way of coping with the needs in their own situation. They have borne out methodologies and strategies to address the problems they face while attempting to organise women workers. All in all, organisers are bonded by a common vision and hope; that one day, women workers will be able to stand up and defend their rights as women and workers in society.

Over 35 organisers from 11 Asian countries, gathered in Seoul, Korea on June 4-11,1989 for an Asian Women Workers Organisers Exchange. Their aim was to share their different experiences and involvement in their work with women workers. An understanding of each other's work, the different ways in which organisers have created their organising and educational programs were the focus of the exchange. For eight days, participants came together. In particular, participants were able to share deeply the Korean women workers movement.

All participants were impressed and moved by the dedication and commitment of the Korean women workers. Be it in trade unions, women workers house or at strike places, participants witnessed women's leadership, women's self-confidence in leading their struggles for justice and their rights. It was an inspiration for all participants to see that it is possible to empower ordinary women workers to struggle for improvements within their lives.

We learnt that education is an ongoing process in that it occurs in the lives and work of participants as organisers and also with the people they work with, women workers. Education does not mean only lectures on labour and social-political issues. Involving oneself in the lives of women workers—their problems, their needs, their limitations —this is the basic education for organisers. Participation in the struggles for better wage and working conditions is another important part of education — it shows women workers the power of organising together to better their working lives. Education also involves creating an awareness of women's oppression which affects the lives of all women workers. Through their involvement, organisers and women workers are discovering about the oppressive structures that affect their lives in the patriarchal society.

The Asian Exchange concluded with the vision that one day Asian women workers will be able to regain their dignity as equal partners in society, recognised and rewarded for their important role in society.

Women Organisers Sharing Experiences

Doing Educational Work With Women Workers Thailand

"We want them to be confident and think for themselves.

"In our educational program, it is the participants, i.e. the women workers, who determine what they want to know or learn. Usually the study group has a fixed curriculum and continuous training program but this is flexible to changes. Our program takes place in any suitable place like the union office, workers house or public park near their factory. Usually the size of the group is small, varying from eight to ten persons. "Our program emphasises the quality of women's life development. We want them to be confident and think for themselves and express their ideas without fear.

"We have been conducting women workers education programs for only two years and we still have a lot to learn. However, I am able to see the effectiveness and progress of the program we have made. Before they joined the group, they were quite afraid to express their ideas, but with the study group, they have become more confident in speaking and sharing their ideas. Some of them are now educating their co-workers. To give you an example: one group discussed how to balance their income and expenditure. Members found that they were spending more than they earned. In conclusion they decided they would cut spending on luxurious items and also urge the union to submit for higher wages.

"Our program in an informal educational program which focuses on adult learners and emphasis on complete participation. We make use of audio-visual materials, e.g. slide shows, videos, games, case-study depending on what we feel is appropriate. We also conduct visiting tours where women workers visit and have exchanges with other groups, e.g. rural women, prostitute groups. This can open women workers' eyes to understand other situations and problems of Thai women."

Hong Kong

"Use the daily language on the women workers. Do not use difficult and abstract words.

"From our experiences, young and unmarried women workers would be easier to be attracted by our courses since they have more free time and their craving for knowledge is greater. Of course, the precondition is that our courses must be interesting and meet their immediate, their vital needs. The meetings must be carried out in a relaxed and conversational form.

"It is better to begin from their own personal experiences. Through the process of sharing experiences with each other, the women workers can review their feelings about their values and attitudes, their outlook on life, etc. And then the organisers can lead the participants to analyse how such values and attitudes are formed in our lives. Here, organisers must bear one thing in mind: do not use difficult and abstract terms that women workers do not understand. We must use the daily language of the women workers. ONLY when women workers feel that you are one of them, then they are willing to express themselves openly. Getting women workers self-confidence to talk openly about themselves is a basic step towards organising them.

"Organising women workers to raise their consciousness on sexual discrimination and inequality needs much longer time. From experience, it seems more suitable to begin with small groups, ideally eight to ten people. Women workers have been neglected since childhood. When they become manual workers, they are accustomed to being discriminated by those in the higher rank. Thus most of them lack the confidence to speak and are afraid of expressing themselves in large audiences. Building awareness via small groups can help overcome this big obstacle.

"Organisers should also constantly use different forms of meeting that can appeal more to women workers like seeing good films together, going to picnics, camping and have meaningful discussions on such outings."

Source:

Asian Women Workers Newsletter June, 1989, no. 2, vol. 8
Published by: Committee for Asian Women
57 Peking Road 4/F Kowloon Hong Kong