Strong mobilisations marked March as affiliates of the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) across various countries concluded International Working Women’s Month with broad participation, diverse actions, and a clear focus on structural agendas for gender equality in the world of work. Throughout the month, unions in construction, wood, and related sectors organised debates, public actions, workplace campaigns, and training activities, reaffirming that 8 March, above all, is a day of struggle.

In Argentina, UOCRA led one of the most structured initiatives. Under the slogan “Ni un paso atrás en la igualdad” (No step back in equality), more than 170 women workers participated in a meeting at the union’s Cultural Space, which combined presentations by female leaders of the trade union movement with collective group work.

The event did not stop at reflection; it produced concrete proposals presented in plenary, reinforcing the commitment to expanding women’s participation and building a more equal working environment. The mobilisation continued in the streets, with women workers participating in 8M marches against regressive reforms and in defense of rights.

In Brazil, the month was marked by an intense decentralised agenda. Sintracon Curitiba and Region brought the reduction in working hours to the centre of the debate by organising an event that examined the impacts of the 6x1 schedule on women’s lives. The issue was underscored repeatedly in mobilisations, being treated as a matter of social justice and gender equality, given the overload borne by women workers, especially due to the double burden of paid work and care.

The denunciation of gender-based violence and the fight against femicide also permeated practically all initiatives. Entities such as Feticom-SP and Fetquim-SP developed strong campaigns to denounce the normalisation of violence and the rise of misogynistic discourse, while grassroots unions brought this discussion directly to their members. In Porto Alegre, STICC POA promoted an in-depth debate on masculinity and confronting violence against women, articulating the need for cultural transformation as part of the response to the problem. At construction sites, the union carried out a campaign against femicide, with educational actions and direct dialogue with workers.

Mobilisation against femicide also took to the streets in cities in the interior of São Paulo, such as Rio Claro and Marília, where unions organised marches and public actions that brought together different sectors of society around the slogan “stop femicide.” These activities reinforced the role of the trade union movement in building broader social alliances to confront violence.

Another important axis was the promotion of spaces for listening and strengthening women workers. The Chemical Workers’ Union of São Paulo organised meetings that combined political debate with support, including initiatives such as Casa Margarida Barreto, focused on supporting women victims of violence. In Rio Claro, “Café com Elas” brought together women workers to discuss everything from working conditions to strategies to confront violence, linking themes such as the reduction of working hours and the fight against precarious work. At the regional headquarters in Diadema, the ABC Chemical Workers’ Union gathered women to talk about femicide.

In the Northeast region, Marreta Pernambuco held the 19th Meeting of Women Construction Workers, highlighting female leadership on construction sites, while unions in Bahia reinforced awareness campaigns and support for public policies to protect women. In Paraná and other regions, meetings of women in construction consolidated permanent spaces for exchanging experiences and organising.

In the Caribbean, there were also significant mobilizations. In Bermuda, the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) held a meeting of women workers, reinforcing the importance of collective organisation. In Bolivia and Peru, trade union federations highlighted the historical role of women in the struggle for rights and reiterated their commitment to eliminating inequalities and violence.

Throughout all these actions, one common element stood out: the defense of expanding women’s presence in construction and in historically male-dominated sectors. Campaigns, site visits, and training activities reinforced that ensuring more women in these spaces requires not only access, but also decent, safe, and harassment-free conditions.

The end of March does not represent the end of mobilisations, but rather the consolidation of an agenda that extends throughout the year. BWI affiliates demonstrated, through an intense month of activities, that the struggle for reduced working hours, for ending violence against women, and for greater equality in the world of work remains at the center of trade union action. In every debate, march, or meeting held, it became clear that building a fairer sector necessarily depends on the leadership of women workers.