Delegates from FIA-LA and from UNI MEI/ PANARTES (the Latin American group of UNI MEI) gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for their yearly joint seminar from 4 to 7 of December 2018. The event was hosted with the support of the Argentinian unions from FIA (AAA, Asociación Argentina de Actores) and UNI MEI (AATRAC, SAL, SATSAID, SUTEP, and SICAAPME). The participants met for a series of capacity building training sessions which are part of a joint FIA and UNI MEI project funded by Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) with the support of Union to Union, the Swedish trade union confederation and TF (Teaterförbundet), the Swedish member of both FIA and UNI MEI. This ongoing project (2018-2019) foresees a set of training events to increase capacities of Latin American trade union leaders for union growth and trade union innovation.
The Buenos Aires joint seminar started with a day of training on organising young workers in the sector. It was carried out by young trade union leaders from AAA, SATSAID and SUTEP, and included practical examples and tools for unions to better reach out to young workers.
This training was followed by a one-day capacity building seminar on how to increase gender equality in union structures, union governance and union actions. Veronica Fernández Méndez, Head of the Equal Opportunities Department of UNI Global Union led the training and shared her international expertise in accompanying members to achieve gender equality within their unions. In addition, national experts from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay provided participants with a rich selection of practical tools and actions they have been carrying out successfully at national level.
The joint meetings were concluded by a leadership training and mentorship program for women leaders of audiovisual trade unions from the region. The leadership training allowed participants to further increase their personal skills in advancing gender equality within union structures and become active agents for gender equality in the workplace.
Previous to the joint seminar, the Latin-American group of FIA also met separately to discuss issues of common interest and regional strategies for performer unions. During the FIA-LA meeting, delegates decided to name Alejandra Rincon from AAA as substitute President of the group until 2020(to replace Andrea Gutiérrez from Chilean actors union SIDARTE). The regional groups issued 5 Declarations available for download here under (only in Spanish).
Declaracion FIALA apoyo ACA – 6 dic 2018
Declaracion Portugues Apoyo a Brazil 5 dic 2018
Declaracion UNI MEI FIA CINE Colombia – 5 dic 2018
Declaracion apoyo sindicatos Chile – 5 dic 2018.pdf
Declaracion FIA-LA y UNI MEI – PANARTES apoyo Argentina 2018