February 27,2019

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RE: CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2019

In solidarity with the struggles of all women across the globe, especially in remembrance of
the fight of our sisters for better working conditions in New York City in 1909, Mindanao
Independent Unions Council/IUF in Partnership with Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at
Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO)/IUF, with Federation of Democratic Labor
Organization (FDLO), celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019.

Indeed, there are many victories to be celebrated. The recent lapsing into law of the
Expanded Maternity Leave are exemplary milestones for women workers’ hard work and
camaraderie. Moreover, there is remarkable progress in providing safe communities against
harassment for women through the Safe Spaces Bill. In the international struggle, we find
great inspiration in the rise of the global women movement against patriarchal
authoritarianism, such as the #MeToo movement, TIME’S UP, and #BabaeAko.

Despite many wins, the work for an equal community remains unfinished. The continuous
consolidation of power by male-dominated big corporations as enabled by the government
has produced policies and cultures that discriminate against women. Societal male
dominance coupled with big money politics enables the suffering of the majority.

Deeply intertwined with our project towards women’s freedom is the restructuring of unequal
power relations that keep all women exploited. Thus, this coming March 8,2019, we will
conduct forum along with International Union of Food (IUF) International Women’s Day 2019
calls for Fight Equal Right! Demand Respect! Stop Violence Against Women. Aside from
forum union gender committee will conduct planning in the afternoon for: 1) Consolidation
and Education Work, 2) Plan of action for establishment of women’s provisions in collective
bargaining agreements and internal policies of the unions.

The forum will be at the following manner:

What: IWD Forum

Where: Harbor Lights
When: March 8,2019
8:00 AM-12:00NN Forum and Photo Ops
1:00PM- 4:00 PM Mindanao Independents Unions Council Women’s
Committee Planning.

In this light, we are pleased to invite any active union officer and/or member from your union
as participants for this activity. The organizer will collect a minimal registration fee amounting
to four hundred pesos (P400.00) per participant to cover snacks and meal.

In solidarity,

Melgen J. Sarra
President UNWCF
 Mindanao Independent Unions Council
and
Federation of Democratic Labor Organization
In Partnership, with
Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa

AM Session (8:00AM to 12:00NN)

1. Registration
Secretariat in charge
2. Formal Opening
Preliminaries
-invocation Presentation
-Introduction of delegates emcee
-House Rules Presentation emcee
3. Program Proper
Welcome and Opening Remarks __________
Keynote Speaker Joana Bernice Coronacion
Deputy Secretary General
SENTRO

1) Women Updates and Challenges

2) Role of Women in the Union
3) Full Employment Campaign
4. Open Forum
5. Photo Ops
6. Lunch

PM Session (1:00PM-4:00PM)

1. Action Planning