We are the latest of the liberation movements and our struggle will inevitably take some time to succeed. However I always found being discriminated against within a trade union more shocking. After all the very existence of a trade union is to stop exploitation and defend the rights of the weak. Hence I always assumed that trade unions are the natural allies of lesbians and gay men. Alas this is not the situation and we need to work hard to reverse this situation.
Trade unions are very powerful organisations in many countries.
Indeed there are countries in the world in which the trade unions are the only voice of the working people. In most developed countries trade unions achieved much for their members. We want to say from this conference that it is time lesbian and gay workers get the benefits of being a trade unionist. This conference has been a dream for many of us for a long time. Its conception did take place in ILGA Trade Union Workshops over the last five years.