CST-JBE, Central Sandinista de Trabajadores-José Benito Escobar, has 50,000 members and 22 affiliated federations in building, maquilas, fishing, bananas/sugar, energy, communication, hotel and catering and among informal workers. An estimated 15,000 members are women.
Most of the women work in the maquilas. An estimated 30% of the members there is female. There is also a Women’s Federation.
Women and young adults have high priority for CST. Important themes are :
· CSR, codes of conduct
· Subcontracting, outsourcing
· Developing alternatives for conflict containment, bargaining
· Occupational health and safety