Ten years of struggle for workers' rights, culture, solidarity and change are collected in the jubilee almanac "From Silence to Voice - 10 Years of a Loud Textile Worker".
The publication was created on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of "Voice Textile" and the tenth edition of "Textile Festival" and represents a retrospective of the path that began with a simple, but strong need - for textile workers to be heard.
From an initiative created in response to low wages, unpaid work, violations of workers' rights, and poor working conditions, "Voice Textile Worker" has grown over the past decade into an organization that provides free legal aid, represents workers before institutions and courts, and actively participates in the creation of public policies.
The pages of the almanac depict some of the most important moments of this ten-year story – protests, labor struggles, legal cases, field work, education, partnerships, artistic actions and initiatives that left a mark in Shtip and beyond.
There is a special place „"Textiliade"“, which has been connecting workers' rights with culture and art since its first edition in 2017. Through debates, exhibitions, theater, literature, photographs, murals, and public actions, workers' stories have emerged from the factory floors and become part of the public space.
Ten issues later, the topics are much broader – from the living wage and union organizing, to gender equality, social dialogue, private sector modernization, and the future of work.
The anniversary, however, is not just a look back. It is also a reminder that the fight is not over.
As stated in the almanac, our vision remains a future in which a decent wage will not be a privilege, union organizing will not cause fear, institutions will protect citizens in a timely manner, and young people will not have to leave to find a dignified life.
Ten years ago we started to break the silence. Today the voice is louder.
