Strength in Solidarity: lessons from a life in trade unionism

Renowned trade unionist, Sharan Burrow AC, was awarded the status of Honorary Fellow of Newnham College at a ceremony on Friday 20 March.

Sharan's career spans decades of advocacy for workers’ rights, gender equality, and climate action, making her a transformative figure in national and international arenas. During her visit to Newnham, Sharan delivered two presentations, firstly at a Masterclass hosted by the Margaret Anstee Centre (MAC) and chaired by Professor Sian Lazar on 19 March, and then her acceptance speech at the ceremony on 20 March.

Masterclass on 19 March, hosted by the Margaret Anstee Centre and chaired by Prof Sian Lazar

Sharan thanked the MAC and wider College for inviting her to Cambridge. She began by saying that the fight for equality and social justice has a long history and there are still many challenges ahead. Only last year was Australia’s first Treaty between First Peoples in Victoria and the Victorian Government signed into law.

Sharan's work in trade unionism has focused on the tenets of peace, democracy and rights. Women's rights in particular have been central to many of her campaigns and she highlighted Margaret Anstee's career in the UN, breaking many glass ceilings, as well as Newnham's role in women's history.

Sharan was the first in her family to go to university. Her great, great grandfather took part in the 1890s Shearers' strikes in Queensland, which brought about the birth of the labour unions in Australia. Sharan was a history teacher and loved teaching. Being part of the union was just a fact of life. But when she was asked to take on an organising role, she found her calling and the rest was history. Being in an education union was an excellent insight into the power of organising - schools are part of the community and the unions are about giving children the best start in life, as well as supporting the rights of teachers. In the union world you always speak of standing on the shoulders of those who went before and showing strength in collectivity. 

Her speech addressed the broken nature of the modern world, with problems and challenges inherited from the previous decades. 60% of the global workforce is in informal labour with no protection or rights. Climate change is having an unequal effect on the world with the Global South bearing the brunt of the consequences. Food and energy security is a pressing issue everywhere. Covid exposed inequality in access to healthcare, and there is conflict around the world.

Labour unions are more relevant than ever and vital in building change across businesses and governments. For example, unions have built consensus on climate change - with workers wanting cleaner, more environmentally friendly jobs for their children. Unions played a key role in the Paris Agreement (on climate). Unions are seen to be trusted and to uphold rights and standards. For example, the International Labour Organisation's Convention 190 to eliminate gender-based violence in the workplace was a great step forward. However, there is a need to rebuild multilateralism as a way ahead in this fractured world.

Sharan noted that academic research is valued in making the case for improvements in labour conditions, for example in evidencing the societal benefits of rights such as maternity leave in improving child and maternal mental health. 

Of key importance, Sharan claimed, is the ability to walk alongside the younger generation, which is very much in the culture of the union movement. She highlighted the importance of change on the ground, collective voice and working in alliance - these grassroots activities being just as important as national and international agreements. Her advice for young women is not to wait for a title or to be empowered by someone else, but to stand up to injustice and act. 

Don't bang your head against a wall - go over or round it. Break out of these boxes!

Honorary Fellowship Ceremony on 20 March, hosted by Principal Alison Rose on behalf of the College Fellowship, with the citation presented by Professor Emma Mawdsley and Dr Mezna Qato

I am honoured to stand in the halls of one of the great tributes to the power of women’s leadership. 

Sharan thanked the College and its Fellows, students and staff for inviting her to receive this honour. She highlighted the history and relevance of Newnham in supporting incredible women scholars and pioneers, and how Fellows such as Prof Mary Beard continue to have a strong voice in advancing the rights of women on a global stage.

Fittingly, her talk focused on the "Power of women's leadership", noting that the inclusion of women and increasing of their suffrage is still an issue globally. She mentioned the International Labour Organisation's Convention 190 on gender-based violence at work as a fairly recent step in giving women more protection in the workplace.

Sharan spoke about the importance of activism and advocacy, mentioning many examples of excellent women leaders she has worked with such as Mary Robinson - women who have used their political position to advance the rights of women and improve society. She also spoke about the role of women in promoting justice and peace, noting that in peace negotiations women play a key role, their participation making the process and the settlement more effective.

We can all name those women leaders with significance for us in many sectors, the women you have met, worked with or been inspired or mentored by as they have contributed to your life journey. In indigenous culture in my country, we call these our songlines.

Equally important to her is multilateralism and creating policies that are developed through people-centric means. But as important as recognising the power of women’s leadership is in the political, union, civil society and corporate realms, it is the impact of women’s leadership in our communities that Sharan advocated. 

It is women who dominate the fabric of care in our communities with paid and unpaid work in the care economy…women don’t need to be empowered, they don’t need a title, and, in too many cases, they don’t even expect payment to act. Their impact is significant and they create groups or structures as necessary for outcomes. The capacity to act on injustice or deficits of care in our communities, our networks, and our workplaces is powerful leadership. 

One of Sharan's key passions is the goal of clean energy and a just transition. Again, women are leading on climate action, for example the Teals movement (centrist, non-party political activists) in Australia, as well as globally. Community and community organising remains the basis for real change.

Women leading on climate is dedicated to support women’s voice and showcase the work of women taking on our greatest existential crisis. It must be an intergenerational network as we walk alongside our younger sisters. Our metric for success…is the cup of tea meter - the number of conversations you engage in!

Photo credit: Dasha Tenditna