The South African Trade Union Confederation, COSATU, has led the way on LGBTI workers’ rights for years and played a major role in the promotion of LGBTI rights at work and in wider South African society. Since 2012, COSATU has reviewed all their policies to ensure that they are inclusive and gender neutral.
Under COSATU’s Gender Policy, specific reference is made to LGBTI workers. It lists practical steps for how COSATU members can help fight LGBTI discrimination, such as:
- Getting LGBTI activists in to participate in union structures.
- Education and awareness raising of LGBTI issues among union members and leaders to confront and eliminate LGBTI discrimination in unions, workplaces and society.
- Negotiating LGBTI provisions into collective agreements so all workers, regardless of sexuality, receive the same benefits.
- Negotiating anti-discrimination clauses that specifically reference LGBTI workers.
- Engaging openly in LGBTI campaigns and showing solidarity with LGBTI struggles.
Source: www.cosatu.org.za
