Sister Wyatt received the Mother Jones Award from President Gloria Johnson (r.) at CLUW’s Convention in 2003 in Seattle. At far left is CLUW Recording Secretary Jean Hervey and Mary O’Melveny, who served as CLUW’s General Counsel.
It is with a heavy heart that CLUW reports the passing on March 28, 2012 of our beloved sister, Addie L. Wyatt. Sister Wyatt was a remarkable woman whose influence will be felt by many. CLUW sisters and brothers extend our deepest sympathy to her family, friends and all whose lives she touched over the years. Sister Wyatt was instrumental in the founding of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and gave the keynote address to the 3,200 delegates at the first gathering of CLUW. Click here for full obituary and information to extend expressions of sympathy.
Video tribute to Sister Addie Wyatt. CLUW member Julie Weiss (IAFF), Kansas City Chapter, conducted an interview on August 24, 2010 in Chicago and created the video of Sister Wyatt that was part of a project to celebrate CLUW sisters who played an important part in our history. In attendance at this interview also were Michele Newby (IAFF) CLUW National Vice President and Katie Jordan (Workers United/SEIU), President Chicago CLUW Chapter.
Oral interview of Rev. Wyatt which took place on December 14, 2002 in Chicago and was conducted by Joan McGann Morris and transcribed by Helen Ramirez-Odell (AFT), member Chicago CLUW Chapter. The interview was done on behalf of the Working Women’s History Project.
CLUW CONVENTION
CLUW's 16th Biennial Convention
September 7-10, 2011
Orlando, Florida
Thanks for visiting the Coalition of Labor Union Women.
CLUW is the national women's organization within the
labor movement. Our members are on the frontline, empowering
working women to become leaders in their unions and
encouraging them to make a difference on the job and,
most importantly, in their own lives. Our values are
simple: Solidarity, involvement, dignity and justice. DOWNLOAD
BROCHURE.
CLUW wants
YOU ! More Members, More Power,
More Progress
Amplify the voice of women in the workforce
by strengthening CLUW, the only national organization
for union women. Both nationally and through our chapters,
CLUW has been busy lobbying the government, educating
the public and rallying our sisters and brothers in
the workforce over such issues as equal pay, Social
Security protection and the Employee Free Choice Act.
We have built partnerships with other constituency and
community groups through town hall meetings held throughout
the country. We have participated in GOTV activities.
We have rallied for a peaceful solution to the war in
Iraq. We have worked to protect women's health through
our Cervical Cancer Prevention Works project and have
educated our union brothers and sisters about the need
for contraceptive equity.
We continue to fight for the original
goals we established back in 1974: promoting affirmative
action in the workplace; strengthening the role of women
in unions; organizing unorganized women; and increasing
the involvement of women in the political and legislative
process.
Congratulations to CLUW sisters for their election victories:
Judy Morgan (AFT) of Greater Kansas City CLUW won the 39th District Missouri House seat on Nov. 8 by a landslide.
Brenda K. Davis (UAW) was elected to the Elyria, Ohio City Council. The Lorain County Chapter member is a delegate to CLUW's National Executive Board.
CLUW's Kate Mullany Chapter (Albany, NY) was one of the organizations to create
Trojan HerStories
-- an audio/video oral history project about women's work in their community: Look at Me by Leia Hlustick We Can Spread The Message by Holly Clark
CLUW is partnering with the Women's Campaign Forum toencourage union women to run for political office. Its She Should Run website provides an online tool for talented women leaders to be asked to run for public office, and follows up with resources and assistance.
The
Berger-Marks Foundation's mission is to bring
the benefits of unionism to working women and
provide resources, training, and financial assistance
to women organizers. Its website offers the latest news – updated regularly
– including tips, tactics, legal issues,
events, a multitude of resources, and effective
strategies women organizers use. Grants are available
to support organizing efforts and related activities.
CLUW
respects your privacy Any and all information collected
on this site will be kept strictly confidential
and will not be sold, reused, rented, disclosed,
or loaned! Any information you give to us will
be held with the utmost care and will not be used
in ways that you have not consented to.
HOT TOPICS: Click
on scrolling items for the full story
Equal Pay Day: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 Check out our Resource Guide below CLUW chapters were involved in various activities throughout the country.
RESOURCE GUIDE
The wage gender gap has remained unchanged for the past decade. Women's earnings were 77.4 percent of men's in 2010, compared to 77.0 percent in 2009, according to Census statistics for full-time, year-round workers.
The Gender Wage Gap by Occupation (pdf) from the Institute for Women's Policy Research (2012). Women’s median earnings are lower than men’s in nearly all occupations, whether they work in occupations predominantly done by women, occupations predominantly done by men, or occupations with a more even mix of men and women.
The American Association of University Women's The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap provides key facts about the gender pay gap in the US, with explanations and resources to help advocate for pay equity. Gender Wage Gap State-by-State Map shows education improves women's earnings, but it does not ensure fair wages.
National Partnership for Women & Families offers a state-by-state map of the wage gap as well as fact sheets and other information. Its Facebook page shows a graphic representation of what the wage gap means in terms of women's purchasing power.
News for Working Women on the Reproductive Health Front
Contraceptive access
regardless of where you work! Reproductive health care, including contraception, is basic health care for women and must be covered as preventive health services
Protect women’s access to basic preventive health care
Opponents are actively working to take away access to preventive health care, including birth control. CLUW is one of the founding members of the Coalition to Protect Women’s Health Care.
Help restore power to the 99% -- sign the petition
Working people are sick and tired of seeing a political system and an economy that only works for the very wealthiest. For too long, our leaders have worked on behalf of the top 1%, leaving everyone else behind. Sign on to the 9 Demands of the 99% and add your voice to this important call.
Building a green economy will create good jobs, reduce global warming and other environmental problems, and help secure America’s economic and environmental future.
Registration for the Southern and Western Conferences is now open; registration for the Eastern and Midwestern starts soon.
Access to Preventive Health Care for Women
The Affordable Care Act, which President Obama signed into law in 2010, prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to any woman because of a pre-existing condition; excluding coverage of certain conditions; or discriminating because of her gender. The law also gives women and their families the affordable health choices they need and access to critical preventive services. Download information (pdf): Access to Preventive Care for Women in the New Health Care Law: Frequently Asked Questions
From the Institute for Women's Policy Research: Click here to read the NWLC paper on the effect of the chained CPI on women's Social Security benefits. Click here to read Politico article about discussions to include changes to Social Security a deficit reduction plan.
State union-busting disproportionately hurts women
National Organization for Women stands in solidarity
The attempt to dismantle unions in Wisconsin by way of dubious legislative tricks was more than an assault on workers' rights: It was an attack on human dignity and women in particular. It will not stand because we as a nation will not stand for it. Read the full story on NOW's website
Cutting deficits has become the main budgetary priority in Washington and state capitals, which means pay freezes or layoffs for hundreds of thousands of these middle-class workers. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and other states, governors are using the real problem of budget deficits as a justification to pursue a long-term goal: union busting. Whether by design or default, this two-pronged assault on the public sector disproportionately hurts women... Read the full story on POLITICO
Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to do away with collective bargaining rights for public sector unions in Wisconsin would be most detrimental to women and African-Americans, who make up a disproportionate share of the public sector workforce. Much has been made of Walker's decision to exempt from his plan firefighter, police and state trooper unions, but over 70 percent of law enforcement personnel are male, as are over 96 percent of firefighters. On the other hand, many of the non-exempt unions represent professions that are disproportionately female -- approximately 80 percent of teachers are women, for example, as are 95 percent of nurses.
The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR)reports that 22 percent of women employed at the local government level worked as elementary and middle school teachers. Among the top jobs for men at the local level are law enforcement, teaching, and firefighting.
Public sector employment has mostly shrunk since 2008, particularly among women. The only growth in public sector employment is at the federal level--and only among men.
The
Berger-Marks Foundation's mission is to bring
the benefits of unionism to working women and
provide resources, training, and financial assistance
to women organizers. Its 
Protect women’s access to basic preventive health care
Help restore power to the 99% -- sign the petition
