Today, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) is celebrating Women's History Month! Initially, the month started as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, CA. In 1978, the California Commission on the Status of Women had a Women's History Week, coinciding with International Women's Day on March 8. Across the nation, communities have celebrated the importance of preserving herstory. 

In 1980, the National Women’s History Project, a coalition of women historians and women-led organizations, lobbied successfully for a Women's History Week in the United States. Congress officially recognized the persistence of the women who fought their voices to be heard by passing Public Law 100-9, designating March as Women’s History Month in 1987. In honor of the women who fought and persisted for Women's History Month, we will commemorate a woman every day throughout March. 

Today, we will celebrate Barbara Jordan (1936-1996), the first African American woman elected to the state senate in Texas and the first southern African American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a lawyer and congresswoman, she always fought for civil rights and dignity for all Americans. She established minimum wage laws, anti-discrimination policies in the workplace, and the

Fair Employment Practices Commission in Texas. During her time at Congress, she was an essential voice with President Richard Nixon's impeachment.  At CLUW, we are very honored to celebrate and honor Barbara Jordan. 

Please stay tuned for upcoming events celebrating herstories and actions to uplift women across the nation.

Thank you for reading and celebrating Women's History Month with CLUW

At the Coalition of Labor Union Women, we are deeply saddened by the loss of President Emeritus John J. Sweeney. May the labor movement carry his legacy and inspire us to continue fighting for all workers' rights.

CLUW President Elise Bryant shared the following words:

"All of us at the CLUW join with the AFL-CIO and the late President John Sweeney’s family in mourning the loss of a great labor leader. I remember when Mr. Sweeney led the Service Employees International Union in an organizing campaign that trained thousands of member organizers who spread out across the country to bring “Justice for Janitors”. We will miss Brother Sweeney, but we can and will honor the legacy of grassroots organizing he leaves behind. John Sweeney, Rest In Peace and Power!”

Thank you for reading and honoring the legacy of labor leader and fighter John J. Sweeney.