On Wednesday, May 8th the so – called Working Families Flexibility Act. HR 1406 is expected to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives. It would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow EMPLOYER- controlled compensatory time off to be substituted for paid overtime.
This is a lose – lose for working women and an effort to disguise anti- worker legislation by hoping it will appeal by using “flexibility” in its title. But the only flexibility here is that guaranteed to the EMPLOYER.
- Who has no obligation to grant you compensatory time when you need it.
- Who does not have to guarantee the comp time vs. cash overtime be a voluntary choice.
- Who could encourage workers to opt for compensatory time rather than paid overtime because it saves him money.
- Who has no obligation to grant parents time off to respond to family needs.
- Who could end up forcing workers into working longer hours with no additional pay.
This bill does nothing to address work life balance.
Call your representative at 1.888.866.2561 NOW and urge him or her to oppose this bill.
But there is legislation that does offer real benefits to working families, such as the Healthy Families Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, Fair Minimum Wage Act and paid family and medical leave insurance – all legislation that CLUW has been advocating and deserves serious action. These bills are what you representative should be addressing, not the phony comp time bill.
April 9, 2013 is Equal Pay Day: Wear Red to Symbolize How Far Women and Minorities are “In the Red” with their Pay!
What CLUW Members Say about Equal Pay and Why the Paycheck Fairness Act is Important
Equal Pay Day is observed in April to indicate how far into each year a woman must work to receive as much as a man was paid in the previous year. Tuesday symbolizes the day when women’s wages catch up with men’s wages from the previous week. Equal pay has been the law since 1963. Yet almost 50 years later, women are still paid less than men—even when we have similar education, skills and experience.
The wage gap remained statistically unchanged in the last year. Women's earnings were 77.0 percent of men's in 2011, compared to 77.4 percent in 2010, according to Census statistics released September 12, 2012 based on the median earnings of all full-time, year-round workers. Men's earnings in 2011 were $48,202 and women's were $37,118, a difference of $11,084. In 2011, the earnings of African American women were $33,501, 69.5 percent of all men's earnings, a slight increase from 67.7 percent in 2010, and Latinas' earnings were $29,020, 60.2 percent of all men's earnings, up from 58.7 percent in 2010. Asian American women's earnings at $40,882 dropped from 86.6 percent of all men's earnings in 2010 to 84.8 percent in 2011.
Last week (on April 4th) the Coalition of Labor Union Women joined with 100 organizations by sending a letter to President Obama calling on the President to issue an executive order that would prohibit retaliation against employees of federal contractors for discussing or inquiring about their wages. You can find the letter here.
Our efforts to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act are critical. The Paycheck Fairness Act is comprehensive legislation that would deter wage discrimination by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and bar retaliation against workers who disclose their wages. The bill strengthens the Equal Pay Act to ensure that effective protection is enacted against sex-based pay discrimination. Please call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask for your congresspersons’ offices to seek their support in cosponsoring the Paycheck Fairness Act.
“What Equal Pay Means to Me” - Greater NJ CLUW Chapter Members
Photo: members of the Greater NJ CLUW Chapter at a meeting on April 3 at the Local 195, IFPTE office in Milltown, NJ.
Chapter president, Mabel Serrano (CWA) holding banner towards right; Congressman Rush Holt, NJ 12th Congressional District was a guest at the meeting and is pictured behind Mabel.
“Pay equality means finally breaking the glass ceiling which inhibits a woman’s self-esteem, health & well- being; means long due recognition that women have great working skills for success.” – Deborah Spencer, IFPTE
“A wage that a woman can raise and support her family equal to what a man would do, ‘Breadwinner’.” – Cecelia Leto, USW
“Pay equity means to me that I am respected the same as a man; I am acknowledged for my skills and my intellect, not seen as the “lesser” gender; and that the playing field is finally level.” – Darlene Smith, AFT
“Being “respected” for the knowledge I bring daily to my job. It’s also about the future for our daughters.” – Lisa Ciccone, IFPTE
“Fair wages benefits that would equal a living wage and keep up with inflation.” – Elsie Issacson, CWA
“Pay equity means that I can take care of me and my family if I don’t have a husband. Treat me as an equal when it comes to wages.” – Dorothy Grauer, AFT
“Respect due to me.” – Bridget Bryant, IFPTE
“Recognizing that women are providing as vital a role in the workforce as men.” – Mabel Serrano, CWA
“Equal pay and respect for the work one does no matter the gender. Gender should not tip the wage scale.” – Timothy Rudolph, IFPTE
“A long time coming, women are just as vital as men in the workforce.” – Wanda Gilliam, IFPTE
“It’s about time!” – Karen White, AFT
“It’s about full recognition that women are entitled to equal pay for equal work that men do. It’s about true fairness.” – Franceline Ehret, IFPTE
“Pay equity means having the ability to earn wages equivalent to that of a male counterpart for work that in many cases women can do better! It saddens me however, that it took so long to make this wrong right.” – Karen Bellamy Lewis, IFPTE
“Pay equity means not working the first ninety plus days for free but rather getting paid every hour of every day.” – Congressman Rush Holt, NJ 12th Congressional District
"It is unimaginable that we are still talking about equal pay in the United States in 2013. Yet, here we are with no equality in sight. Today pay inequity has a broader reach than ever before with more women working and providing for their families as the major financial support. We have more families and more children suffering as a result. I'm thankful that my Union has guaranteed me the same pay as my male counterpart. I wish every woman was afforded the same guarantee!"
Michele Newby, CLUW National Vice President (IAFF), Chapter President, Greater Kansas City CLUW
Millie Hall said,”On Tuesday, April 9th, we will again renew our commitment to end wage discrimination and our desire and commitment to obtain EQUAL PAY. The women in Michigan are still seeing “Red.” At a time when America’s economy is facing erosion and a downturn, every penny counts in order to survive. It’s time to close the gender wage gap. Our work ethics, skills and abilities, not our ethnicity, age, religion or gender should determine our value. “Women are Not Worth-Less”. Let’s stop blocking the equal opportunity path for women — women have earned the right to equal pay and deserve to receive equal pay for equal work.”
Millie Hall, OPEIU, President Metro-Detroit CLUW on right with Jacquie Steingold, CLUW member and Administrative VP of Wayne County NOW at 2012 Equal Pay Day commemoration in Michigan wearing red to recognize the day.
“This year in June we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act. In 1963 hopes were high that the 41 cent differential between men's and women's pay would be eradicated in a few years. But, in the last fifty years, we have advanced only 18 cents. At this rate it will take more than 100 years to erase the gap entirely. The picture for minority women is an even deeper differential and longer time span. This is not the promise of equality that America should hold for more than half of its population. We need to educate our legislators and our families to press for the Paycheck Fairness Act. Most of all to educate women - girlfriends, mothers, daughters, sisters, granddaughters - to negotiate their salaries and to monitor workplaces for fairness. I want my daughters and brand new granddaughter to have the same rate of pay as the men who do the same work.”
Connie Cordovilla, Chapter President, Northern Virginia CLUW, Associate Director, Human Rights and Community Relations Department, AFT
“A gentleman and I were doing the same job but he received more pay for it. I had been doing the job longer. I had state employment seniority. I even had to train him. Once again I, as a woman was cheated out of pay that I rightfully deserved and my co-worker with less seniority and knowledge got paid more. Why? Because he was a man. … These experiences drove me to be a job steward for CA State Employees Association (CSEA) and also with Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The negatives turned into positives for those that I have helped within my 26 years as a job steward and that I still help when and where I can. I also know that this kind of discrimination is why we need to get the Paycheck Fairness Act passed.”
Phyllis S. Johnson, Secretary/Treasurer, Central CA Chapter, CLUW, SEIU Local 1000
United For Marriage Rally:Washington, DC - March 26th & 27th, 2013
One of the fundamental values underpinning our nation is that freedom means freedom for everyone. On March 26 and 27, Americans supporting marriage equality will gather in the nation’s capital to give a face to the overwhelming majority of Americans from all walks of life who believe in the freedom to marry.
Right now a number of LGBT and allied groups, grassroots leaders, and families are organizing a rally right outside of the Supreme Court. Together we will show the nation that we believe that all Americans deserve to be treated fairly and equally under the law – no matter who they love. More information is available by clicking here.
If you are unable to come to Washington, DC please join a local action in your community. Activities are listed here.
Across-the-board budget cuts—called sequestration—will cost more than 1 million jobs this year and many more jobs over the next decade. There is a simple solution to make this problem go away: repeal sequestration.
It is that simple.
Republicans are using sequestration as leverage to get their way in Congress. They want to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits and gut essential services working people depend on, while protecting tax breaks for Wall Street and the richest 2% of Americans.
The solution is to repeal sequestration—not replace it—so we can put these manufactured crises behind us and focus on the urgent problems of putting America back to work, raising wages and reducing economic inequality.
Join us on March 20 as we make our voices heard! – at Congressional Offices and in our communities. We’ll put a human face on the sequester, workers losing their jobs, communities impacted, small businesses jeopardized. Find a Local Event by clicking here.
President Obama has signed into law historic new protections with the expanded reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, that will empower Native American tribal authorities to prosecute non-Native Americans for abuses committed on tribal lands. It will also for the first time ever include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender survivors. We're joined by two guests who attended Thursday's reauthorization ceremony at the White House: Juana Majel Dixon, first vice president of the National Congress of American Indians; and Mara Keisling, a transgender rights activist and founding executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. Watch their 15-minute discussion by clicking here.
We also speak with world-renowned Indian feminist, activist and thinker Dr. Vandana Shiva, who discusses the impact on women by what she calls the world's "violent economic order." She also addresses the women-led uproar over sexual violence in India triggered by last year's brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in Delhi. Watch her 10-minute interview by clicking here.
As millions gather in Caracas to mourn the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, we speak with Carol Delgado, Venezuelan Consul General in New York, who has returned home for today's funeral. In addition to describing the scene in Caracas, she says that on International Women's Day, people should note the prominence of women in positions of leadership within the Venezuelan government and in the 30,000+ communal councils. Watch her comments by clicking here.
President Obama signs expanded Violence Against Women Act into law
The revitalized law offers new protections for lesbians, gays and Native Americans. 'This is the day of the advocates, the day of the survivors. This is your victory,' Obama said at the signing ceremony.
It is with a very heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our beloved sister, friend, mentor and founding member of CLUW, Gloria T. Johnson, President Emerita (IUE/CWA) who passed away on February 13, 2013 while at Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, Maryland.
Gloria Johnson was a lifetime women’s, labor and civil rights leader. She joined the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers in 1954 as a bookkeeper. For many years she served as the elected chair of the IUE Women’s Council and was the Director of IUE’s Social Acton Department and a member of the Executive Board. Before her retirement from the IUE-CWA in 2004 she was the Women’s Activities Coordinator.
She served as President of CLUW from 1993 until 2004 and prior to being elected president was CLUW’s treasurer for seventeen years. Read the entire article by clicking here.
CLUW is pleased to be sponsoring a book talk by Bill Fletcher, Jr. on his new book “They’re Bankrupting Us! And 20 Other Myths About Unions”
This event will be held on Thursday, March 14 at 5:00 PM in Room 335B at the Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010. The book talk is open to all CLUW members and interested friends. For those attending the CLUW National Executive Board meeting at the same hotel the book talk follows the close of the first registration period and is on the same floor so is easy to find. Please click here for a 2 sided leaflet that describes the book and includes the time and place for the book talk.
Please click here for a 2 sided leaflet that describes the book and includes the time and place for the book talk. Feel free to circulate this leaflet to coworkers, friends and family.
After the announcement by the PMG that the USPS intends to eliminate Saturday Delivery, it did not take long for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to schedule hearings on the fate of the Postal Service. They will begin this coming Wednesday, February 13, and will feature testimony by PMG Donahoe and APWU President Cliff Guffey, among others.
Ending Saturday delivery is just the next step in the organized process of eliminating the USPS as we know it today and eliminating the Unions that represent the workers. Tens of thousands of good union jobs have already been, and continue to be, eliminated by the USPS because of mail processing consolidations. Service is already suffering and will only continue to decline unless something is done.
NALC President Rolando responds to Donahoe:
Feb. 7, 2013 --Postmaster General Pat Donahoe’s unilateral and brazen plan to end Saturday mail delivery in August led many reporters at a press conference yesterday to question its legality, given Congress’ 30-year legislated policy to mandate six-day delivery. Donahoe was vague and evasive in responding. The PMG also made a number of claims about employee support for his plan. National Association of Letter Carriers President Fredric Rolando issued the following statement in response:
The PMG didn’t equivocate when he talked to me before unleashing a sneak attack on the nation’s postal customers, letter carriers and mailers who rely on Saturday delivery. He told me he plans to go ahead with his service- and job-killing plan, even if Congress extends next month the continuing resolution that mandates Saturday delivery. He’s essentially telling Congress to “Drop dead!” He is presuming the right to override the will of America’s elected representatives. Read the entire story by clicking here.
APWU Condemns USPS Plans to Cut Service: Dismantling Postal Service Will Not Save It
APWU President Cliff Guffey has issued the following statement:
“The APWU condemns the Postal Service’s decision to eliminate Saturday mail delivery, which will only deepen the agency’s congressionally-manufactured financial crisis.
“The USPS has already begun slashing mail service by closing 13,000 post offices or drastically reducing hours of operation, shutting hundreds of mail processing facilities, and downgrading standards for mail delivery to America’s homes and businesses. The effects are being felt in cities and towns across the country. Read the entire story by clicking here.
Congressional Republicans are manufacturing a crisis to force decisions that hurt working families while helping the rich and corporations. They would rather cut education and vital services for middle-class and low-income people than close loopholes for Wall Street, drug companies and the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
Once again, Republicans are holding America and our economy hostage. Their plan does nothing to create jobs. It doesn’t invest in America’s infrastructure and education, raise wages reduce inequality or increases economic security for working people. It protects the wealthiest Americans from paying their fair share and will send us into a deeper recession.
We’re asking our elected officials to stand up to the bullies by:
Opposing benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid;
Closing loopholes for Wall Street and the wealthiest 2% of Americans and canceling sequestration.
And we’re asking you to tell Congress to put working families first. Call your representative now: 888-659-9401.
Family Medical Leave Act was signed into Legislation by President Clinton on February 5, 1993.
By Carol S. Rosenblatt, Executive Director, Coalition of Labor Union Women
It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the Family and Medical Leave Act became law. The Coalition of Labor Union Women was an active proponent for years and passage of family and medical leave was a critical issue that drew us to call for The American Family Celebration that took place in Washington, DC on May 14, 1988. It united a groundswell of support among religious, civil rights, women’s, labor and children’s groups in the call for a national family policy. The celebration, initiated by CLUW had 162 financial and logistical sponsors. “The time is now,” CLUW’s President (then) Joyce Miller told the crowd of 50,000. “The polls have shown it, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. The American people want the candidates to direct themselves to these kinds of issues. We are here to demand a family policy in the U.S. that recognizes the revolution that has changed the American family.”
We celebrate FMLA’s passage and know that the 100 million times it has been used attests to its success. I know, I have used it too, and have been grateful that it was there. Certainly being guaranteed your job upon return to work and having your health insurance covered is wonderful. But even though its passage was a landmark victory, it is only a first step in addressing the family needs of the American worker and maybe now is a time for another American Family Celebration to call for what is still unfinished. Because it is unpaid leave now and those who can’t afford to be without a paycheck have to weigh what is most important - caring for oneself or a sick family member or a new baby or getting a paycheck so their family can eat. Or the LGBTQ community – are they not a part of the American family? Yet they are not covered. And all the other workers who have been left out – part time workers, or those who have not been at a company long enough to have coverage, or who work for a small company that does not fall under the law, etc. (just to name a few omissions).
It is time that these holes be fixed – these are real people with real needs. And how about all those minimum wage workers (women make up 2/3rds of them) who go paycheck to paycheck – many in threat of losing their job if they take off work– so show up to work sick.
Increasing the minimum wage and passing the Healthy Families Act, federal legislation that would guarantee paid leave for a minimum number of days are steps in the right direction. And – by the way if you are lucky enough to be in a unionized work place you have a much greater chance of having pay when you are on leave and through collective bargaining can negotiate about family and work issues.
So congratulations to us all for getting FMLA passed and let’s see what we can accomplish so we don’t have to wait another 20 years for those workers who are still in need. .
Yesterday, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Michael Crapo (R-ID) introduced S.47, a strong, bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)! This bill closely mirrors the bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Leahy and Crapo last Congress and would improve VAWA programs and strengthen protections for all victims of violence (see description of legislation below).
In order to continue our incredible momentum from last Congress, we need you to take action TODAY by contacting your Senators to co-sponsor S. 47. Our goal is to get 60 co-sponsors by January 31st so that VAWA can get to the Senate floor for a bipartisan victory. We need to keep the phones ringing starting right now!
So far, the bill has the following co-sponsors in addition to its chief sponsor, Senator Leahy (D-VT): Senators Ayotte (R-NH), Bennet (D-CO), Cantwell (D-WA), Casey (D-PA), Collins (R-ME), Coons (D-DE), Crapo (R-ID), Durbin (D-IL), Hagan (D-NC), Kirk (R-IL), Klobuchar (D-MN), McCaskill (D-MO), Mikulski (D-MD), Murkowski (R-AK), Murray (D-WA), Shaheen (D-NH), Tester (D-MT), Udall (D-CO), and Whitehouse (D-RI).
Also yesterday, Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI) and John Conyers (D-MI) introduced H.R. 11, a House companion identical to the bipartisan Senate bill. The National Task Force calls on the House of Representatives to work together in a bipartisan effort to build on the momentum from the last Congress in order to reauthorize VAWA as a matter of priority.
Action Item:
Call the Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask the operator to connect you to your Senators. If you don’t know who your Senators are, you can look them up here. When you’re connected to their offices, tell the person who answers the phone:
1) I am a constituent from (city and state) and my name is _________.
2) I urge Senator____ to co-sponsor the S. 47, a strong, bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
3) Thank you and I look forward to hearing that the Senator is a co-sponsor.
### Description of legislation: In addition to many important improvements throughout the bill that received bipartisan support last year, this bill also contains enhanced protections for tribal, LGBT and immigrant victims, which were identified as critical priorities by advocates across the country and also received bipartisan support last year. Last year’s bill, however, also included a modest increase in the number of U visas (created by Congress in VAWA 2000) available to immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and certain other violent crimes who assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. Increasing the number of U visas helps both victims and law enforcement. Unfortunately, that provision led to a technical objection from House Republican leaders. In the interest of obtaining the swift reauthorization of VAWA, the Senate introduced the new VAWA bill without that provision in order to avoid any initial technical obstacles. However, this new VAWA bill does recommit Congress to important immigration provisions so that all victims are protected. Senator Leahy will be working hard to include the U visa increase in the comprehensive immigration reform legislation that will soon be considered by Congress. The members of the National Task Force likewise commit to support that effort.
###
For more information, fact sheets, press coverage, support letters and updates: www.4vawa.org.
Follow us on Twitter @NTFVAWA and “like” our Facebook page. Don’t forget to tweet about VAWA using the hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA, #RealVAWA and #VAWA.
If you aren't on one of the VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to ntfvawaalerts@icasa.org. For more info, go to www.4vawa.org.
"For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts."
From the steps of the Capitol on the occasion of his second inaugural, President Obama spoke about the importance of equal pay. How inspiring!
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) are reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act TODAY. And they need our help.
Can you back them up, by taking 3 minutes to call your members of Congress RIGHT NOW? The more calls we make, the more likely your members of Congress will sign on and support this bill to deter wage discrimination.
Here is everything you need to take action:
Call the switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask the operator to connect you to your Senators and Representative. If you don’t know who your members of Congress are, you can look them up here. When you’re connected to their offices, tell the person who answers the phone:
1) I am a constituent. My name is _________.
2) I urge Senator____ or Representative ____ to co-sponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act and speak in support of the bill on the floor.
3) Thank you.
Please remember that you have to call three times to reach both of your Senators and Representative – but it’s worth it! Please tell Carol Rosenblatt at the CLUW office 202-508-6951 or csrosenblatt@cluw.org what you were able to do.
Want to learn more about the Paycheck Fairness Act?
This bill would deter wage discrimination by updating the nearly 50-year-old Equal Pay Act, in part by barring retaliation against workers who disclose their own wages to coworkers. It's ridiculous, but no federal law broadly prohibits employers from penalizing and even firing employees just for talking about their salaries.
Remember Lilly Ledbetter? She was told on her first day of work at Goodyear never to discuss her salary with anyone. It wasn't until she found an anonymous note in her locker years later that Lilly realized she was being paid as much as 40 percent less than her male colleagues in the same position. This is exactly why these pay-secrecy policies that punish employees and help hide discrimination must go!
Every call counts! More calls mean more pressure and better results. Please take action today by calling (202) 224-3121.
This month marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legalized reproductive health care in our country and put the decision whether to have an abortion right where it belongs — with women. But if the last two years of attacks is any indication, the right granted by Roe is not a given — in fact, it's at stake as we speak.
Everyone's life is different... especially when it comes to reproductive health. Yet some politicians are trying to make personal decisions for us as if they had ever walked a mile in our shoes.
Help the This Is Personal campaign (created by the National Women's Law Center) and supported by CLUW and other allied organizations tell politicians they don't know what it's like to walk in our shoes. Post a picture of your shoes to the campaign's Not In Her Shoes Tumblr and let us know why you are unique and committed to protecting reproductive health care.
It's time to take a stand and tell opponents they don't belong in our shoes, doctor's offices or bedrooms. And it's time we get more women across the country involved in this fight by grabbing their attention with Not in Her Shoes.
Join the effort by sharing a photo of your shoes and telling us your experiences and personal stories to celebrate that we walk our own paths. When you post a picture of your shoes tell us about your situation. Why do you need reproductive health care? Why do you support keeping abortion safe and legal? What is important about keeping all reproductive health decisions personal?
It hasn't been an easy path for Roe these past 40 years, but because of people like you we are optimistic we'll be celebrating this special anniversary for decades to come.
And help us spread the word by sharing the Tumblr on Facebook and Twitter using the hash tag #notinhershoes
Please forward this email to your friends, family, and co-workers.
Thanks for everything you do to protect women's reproductive health.
On Monday, January 21, 2013, we will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, which was first enacted by Congress in 1986 as a federal holiday. This was in part to celebrate Dr. King’s life and to recognize him for what he did with his life serving others.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. His father and grandfather as well as Dr. King were Baptist Ministers. Dr. King is well known for his role in the Civil Rights movement in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s; however, he was also an activist for union members who were struggling to be recognized.
After Rosa Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955, for failing to give up her seat on a bus to a white male in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. King helped organize a boycott that lasted for approximately thirteen months. During this time the more than 17,000 blacks that resided in Montgomery refused to ride a bus. Because of the financial impact to the city and the decision that was handed down by the Supreme Court forced the Montgomery Bus Company to accept integration, thus the boycott came to a halt in December 1956.
In 1963, Dr. King stood with members of organized labor including the UAW, International Ladies Garment Workers, when they met with President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson at the White House (see photo below).
In 1964, Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence.
On several occasions in early 1968, Dr. King traveled to Memphis and stood with black sanitation workers who walked off the job because their employer failed to recognize their union (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFSCME). At this time black sanitation workers earned $1.70 and hour and the city failed to listen to ongoing grievances that dealt with deplorable work conditions and a request to increase their salaries to $2.35 an hour, overtime pay and merit promotions regardless of race.
Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) is calling on the President to join us in celebrating women’s leadership and nominate a female Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor. The current Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis, has announced she will be resigning from her post.
The Labor Secretary plays a critical role in ensuring that America’s workers are protected and plays a critical role in how our nation’s policies affect labor rights around the world. Women need a strong advocate in this leadership role.
Please sign the petition asking President Obama to pick a woman for the position.
A record high number of women in the House and Senate will be serving in the 113th Congress with 20 women (16 Democrats and 4 Republicans) in the Senate and 78 women (58 Democrats and 20 Republicans) serving in the House of Representatives. This information and more can be found in the recent Center for American Women and Politics Election Watch Press Release.
We still have a long way to go – checkout the She Should Run website to learn what it takes to run for office and consider doing it now!
On Thursday, January 3, 2013 members of Congress were sworn in to office. The photo below shows those House Democratic women who won their elections and will be serving in the 113th Congress.
The 2013 National Executive Board meeting will be held March 14-16 at the Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010. Phone is 713.739.8000 and fax is 713.739.8007. You can find the tentative agenda by clicking here.
Our meeting will be an exciting time to address issues facing all members of CLUW. All CLUW members are invited to attend NEB meetings as observers.
This NEB meeting will concentrate on the 17th Biennial Convention preparation and Standing Committees and Convention Committees will be meeting. A meeting of the Committee on the Future will also be taking place during this NEB. If you are interested in serving on this committee please plan to attend. If you want more information on this committee contact President Karen See at 202-508-6958 or ksee@cluw.org. A Social Evening will also take place.
The CLUW hotel rate is $147 single/double per night, plus State of Texas sales tax of 8.25% and hotel occupancy tax of 17%. Room reservations mustbe made no later than February 15th directly with the hotel at 1.800.236.2905 (Group: Coalition of Labor Union Women Board Meeting 1UW) or by calling the in house reservation department at 713.577.6667. You may also reserve on-line at:
Hilton Americas - Houston(no group code is necessary when reserving on-line – you will be linked to a page created for CLUW).
A deposit equal to one night’s stay is required to hold each individual’s reservation. Deposits paid by guests are refundable if notice is received by the hotel up to 48 hours prior to check-in. All credit cards used to prepay will be charged immediately. Should a guest depart earlier than the date confirmed at check-in, a $75 fee will be charged to the individual’s account. There will be a $50 fee for late checkout (contact the front desk for more information if you are interested in checking out late). Check-in time is 3 PM and checkout time is 12 PM.
The Hilton Americas-Houston is located in the heart of downtown Houston and is serviced by 2 airports. The Houston Intercontinental Airport is located 25 miles from the hotel: taxi service is $45 each way and Super Shuttle $23 each way. The William P. Hobby Airport is 12 miles from the hotel: taxi is $21 each way and Super Shuttle $18 each way. To utilize CLUW’s discounted Super Shuttle rate click here.
Hotel parking is $20 per day for overnight use with in and out privileges – notify the hotel upon check in so your room key can be used for parking. Valet parking is $32 a day.
The hotel comes equipped with an indoor Olympic size infinity pool as well as a spa and health club.
For maps, driving directions, points of interest and other resources visit: Hilton Americas-Houston website.
Complete and return thePre-Registration Formby February 15, 2013. Contact the National Office if you are seeking a roommate or are willing to share a room. The National Office will maintain a listing, providing contact names upon request. If you have any questions, call the National CLUW Office at 202.508.6969.
A more detailed agenda will be posted prior to the meeting.
On behalf of the Officers and Staff at the Coalition of Labor Union Women we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Our Offices will be closed for the Holidays from December 22, 2012 thru January 1, 2013.
Participants Include Many New CLUW Members and Young Union Women
7 of the 10 Berger-Marks Scholarship Winners: J. Packer (AFGE),K.Safar (CWA), V. Volk( AFT), B. Hale (AFGE), L. Cook (USW), E. Guerrido (TWU) and A. Payton (AFGE).
Within days of the historic 2012 election CLUW members converged in Kansas City, Missouri to attend a three day skills-building conference, November 9-11th. It drew 180 activists from the United States (from 27 states) and Canada, representing 24 different unions and worker- support organizations. Eighty one of them were new CLUW members.
The conference included intensive training in three areas (Skills for Emerging Leaders, Public Speaking and Community Engagement – with expert instructors from NEA, AFSCME and AFT respectively). It also included short workshops covering violence in the workplace, the history of women in the labor movement, organizing, women and global solidarity, CLUW’s history and advocacy, leadership and mentoring. (See Master Program and Workshop Choices for details of the Conference). Here is a short video that highlights some of the speakers and participants who attended the Conference.
CLUW received a grant from the Berger-Marks Foundation to fund 10 young women union members to participate. From a pool of 50 applicants, scholarships were awarded to 10 deserving women from AFGE TWU, UAW, AFT, CWA, OPEIU, UFCW, and LIUNA (see photo above).
The program opened with a plenary that captured the celebratory post-election mood, as well as the contributions to the election made by women.
Karen J. See, CLUW President, welcomed participants enthusiastically saying, “We are thrilled to be here on the heels of such an outstanding victory for working women. We know you will benefit from the exceptional training that will follow this afternoon and over the next two days and we look forward to having you all join us next year at our biennial convention.”
Mike Louis, Secretary Treasurer of MO State AFL-CIO, welcomed the group and in his recap of the election said….”we just won the most important election in your lifetime.”
Michael Cambiano, President of IAFF Local 42 (Kansas City), brought greetings, observing that, “You used to be told that unions are good for women, but now in 2012 women are good for unions.”
MO State Senator Jolie Justus’s words further underscored the primary message of the day, “… We (women) made a huge difference in this election,” she noted. And the war on unions and the war on women ..“made no sense to me, as it was a war on the backbone of this country”.. She encouraged union women to run for public office.
Siobhan “Sam” Bennett, President & CEO, Women’s Campaign Fund, who joined remotely (via Skype) reiterated this message and made it clear that while there were successes for women in the election, there is much yet to do and plans are underway to continue to work with CLUW chapters to encourage more union women to run for office.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, (MO District 5) and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus of the 112th Congress, gave a rousing presentation bringing the attendees to their feet, saying that he was proud to be one of the 47% (referring to Mitt Romney’s negative description) and the election results were a repudiation of that kind of thinking. He went on to say that “minorities and women sent him (President Obama) back to the White House.” (see photo below).
For 13-16 hours (depending on the course selected) attendees immersed themselves in one of three tracks.
Skills for Emerging Leaders: Two of the Berger-Marks scholarship participants who selected this class were especially enthusiastic in their evaluations. “ I think the two of you (referring to the instructors ) are amazing educators! Thank you for teaching, inspiring and empowering me on my new journey in leadership,” said Jenny Divish UFCW Local 5. Erica Guerrido, TWU, Local 100 noted, ”Faced challenges and conducted a self evaluation. My classroom environment turned into a living room, I felt like I was with family. Therefore, I was inspired by the connections made in this workshop”.
Public Speaking: “I learned so much! Everyone should take this class!!” Shyla La’Sha, SAG-AFTRA. From Carla Insinga, AFSCME, “(I) found the workshop content to be AWESOME! Should be a must for all activists!!!” Laura Wentz, IATSE -- “This was a fabulous workshop. I will use all the information for my speeches and I will share the information with others.” Jamera Packer, AFGE (Berger-Marks winner) comments, “ I came a long way in two short days. This class helped me overcome some confidence issues and I can’t wait to go back to work and apply it to my position.”
Community Engagement: “One of the most informative workshops I have attended..” Ozella Anderson, CWA Local 9003. And from Debra Davis, Local 722 “Very informative, will use these skills once I go back to my local”.
A number of impromptu caucuses took place during the conference – one was created and made up of young women. In response to “Why are you here? What brought you to this conference?” comments included wanting to merge feminist and labor activism, to learn how to turn around the deficit in women in leadership, supported by President, recognizing the need for attention to women’s issues amongst other reasons.
The closing plenary included a panel discussion, “From a Young Working Woman’s Perspective”. Panelists included four Berger-Marks’ scholarship recipients: Brittny Hale (AFGE), Lisa Cook (USW), Karly Safar (CWA) and Erica Guerrido (TWU). They discussed their introduction to the labor movement, how CLUW can make itself more attractive to young union women and how their unions can get more young women to attend union meetings and participate in the union. From the evaluations and comments, for many this fresh and honest discussion was the highpoint of the weekend.
A sampling of additional comments on the conference follow:
This Conference has been awesome- I learned so much - & leave wanting more. I have so much to take back – the ending panel was great. Thanks. Lynn Burow SPEEA/IFTPE 2001
Great job! Love the young peeps! Julie Weiss/IAFF
It was an awesome experience. I have learned SO much about unions and everything they do. Shannon Salend/OUR Walmart
For CLUW we thought the whole experience was pretty awesome too!!
Attendee's from left to right: Julie Weiss, Greater KC CLUW Treasurer, Chere Chaney, Missouri CLUW State Vice President, Michele Newby, Greater KC CLUW President & National Vice President, Karen See, CLUW President, Emanuel Cleaver, US Congressman (MO-5th District), Michael Cambiano, IAFF Local 42 President, Jolie Justus, Missouri Senator, Judy Morgan, Missouri State Representative. (for additional Conference Photos click on the Photo Gallery at the top of this page).
There is still a chance that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) will be reauthorized during this Lame Duck session of Congress, but some Congressional leaders are demanding that an important provision for tribal victims be dropped. Because the NTF supports a VAWA 2012 that includes ALL victims and survivors, this in unacceptable. We know that you agree that we must have an inclusive VAWA that contains key protections for Native victims—our nation’s most vulnerable population—and that we must act NOW!
Call your members of Congress immediately and urge them to tell House and Senate leadership that you will not support a VAWA bill unless it includes the key tribal jurisdictional provisions!
The bipartisan Senate version of the bill, S. 1925, contains Section 904, which is a provision that would restore tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians for certain crimes of domestic violence and dating violence committed in Indian country. Section 904 has bipartisan support in the Senate and the House. In fact, just last Friday, Representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced a stand-alone bill (H.R. 6625) containing a modified version of Section 904 to show their support for these key protections for Native victims. Despite this broad support, some leaders in the House are refusing to let VAWA proceed in the lame duck session unless the tribal jurisdictional provisions are completely removed. This is unacceptable. VAWA is at a critical juncture and we need your help!!
Call your leaders in Congress right away and urge them to support the tribal criminal jurisdiction provisions—i.e., either Section 904 of S.1925 or the Issa/Cole alternative, H.R. 6625! NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP!! Urge your members of Congress to work with Senate and House leadership to include the tribal jurisdictional provisions in any final VAWA bill.
Find your Senators and Representatives contact info by clicking here.
Additionally, help us draw attention to the epidemic of violence against Native women by posting the video below on your Facebook and Twitter pages. Together, we can ensure enactment of a VAWA that protects all victims!
Coalition of Labor Union Women Statement in Support of Walmart Workers
November 23, 2012
In a historic move, nearly a thousand actions have begun around the country as a part of a rolling series of walk-outs by Walmart’s store associates. The Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), called for the strike after numerous unfair labor practices (ULPs) the company committed against workers and in protest of Walmart’s ongoing attempts to silence workers for speaking out for better jobs. This strike follows successful direct action by warehouse workers and seafood workers along the company’s vast supply chain.
In response, the company continued to make illegal threats to workers in the stores—even going so far as to file a bogus ULP claim with the National Labor Relations Board.
However, public support has been widespread, with many mobilizing at stores over the holidays to support workers who are walking out. Over $125,000 has already been raised for strike support.
Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) members and chapters in coalitions with our allies are participating and supporting store actions and courageous Walmart workers who are speaking up for a voice at work throughout the country.
This new movement of the Walmart 99% is only going to grow, and more rapidly each day. It has become clear that the company cannot deflect it forever.
The only solution is for Walmart to sit down with all of its workers, from factory to store, to collectively negotiate better conditions for the people the company depends on.
Congress will vote this month on whether to renew the Bush tax cuts. Please tell Congress to end the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2%. It’s time for the rich to pay their fair share. Send our letter to your members of Congress and have your voice heard by clicking here.
Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Greater Kansas City Chapter Files Court Action to Stop Missouri Employers from Denying Birth Control to Workers
Reproductive Rights Important Issue in 2012 Election
Karen J. See, Coalition of Labor Union Women National President remarks,” Women made a major difference in this election and the onslaught of attacks on women and labor made the issues that much sharper. I am proud of our members and the courage shown by our Greater Kansas City Chapter in taking action to prevent implementation of a bill that would be harmful to working women in Missouri.”
According to exit poll data analysis by the Center for Women and Politics of Rutgers University a majority of women (55%) cast their ballots for President Obama, while a majority of men (52%) voted for Governor Romney.
Laura Bassett in a November 7th piece in the Huffington Post concluded that, “Romney seemed to struggle to connect with women as a result of the GOP's escalating efforts to limit women's reproductive rights and a series of controversial comments from Republicans about rape, birth control and abortion. Romney, in particular, alienated many female voters by dodging questions about equal pay legislation, pledging to defund Planned Parenthood and overturn Roe v. Wade, and backing legislation that would allow employers to deny women birth control coverage.”
Missouri legislators failed to recognize a woman’s reproductive rights throughout the year.
On January 20, the Obama administration announced that it would protect access to affordable birth control under the Affordable Care Act ensuring that millions of women will have access to affordable birth control, including those employed by a religiously affiliated hospital, university, or organization.
However, Senator Roy Blunt (R- MO) sponsored an amendment to the Affordable Care Act that would have allowed any employer to refuse to cover any kind of health care service based on moral reasons. The Senate voted 51-48 on March 1st to reject the amendment.
Meanwhile Missouri state legislators introduced SB 749 on Feb. 2nd that makes it possible for any "employer, health plan provider, health plan sponsor, health care provider, or any other person or entity" to refuse to provide coverage for contraception, abortion, or sterilization.
The Missouri AFL-CIO stated, ” SB 749,.. would allow bosses to deny workers access to birth control, an “unacceptable erosion of workers' rights on the job.”
On July 12th Governor Jay Nixon (D) vetoed Senate Bill 749 and on September 12th both houses of the Missouri legislature voted to override the governor’s veto.
Immediately after Michele Newby, Chapter President and the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women filed in the Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri seeking an injunction to prevent implementation of the bill. Among other things, the lawsuit claims the Missouri measure conflicts with the Affordable Care Act that requires insurers to cover contraception without co-pays or deductibles. Michele Newby remarked, “ Taking this action is the right thing to do and is what CLUW is about. Working women should be able to make health care choices regardless of where they work and without employer interference. This is a work place issue and we are glad to be defending the rights of working women.” Michele Newby is a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters and serves as a National Vice President on the CLUW National Officers Council
The case has not yet been scheduled for hearing.
To read about CLUW's activity on this issue as well as the AFL-CIO's support of contraceptive equity and access please click here.
Striking Palermo’s Pizza workers have set off on a Truth Tour to educate the public about their strike and build support for a national boycott of Palermo products.
Palermo’s Pizza workers have been on strike since June 1, 2012. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is investigating charges that the company illegally fired nearly 90 workers in response to a request for recognition of the Palermo Workers Union.
The Truth Tour has hit cities across the Midwest and will conclude with a major event planned in Seattle on Friday, November 16 outside Costco headquarters. Stand up for Palermo’s Pizza workers and take action today. Here is how you can help, click here for their website.
If you did not receive an “agenda selection sheet” you can get one here. The completed schedule of the National Executive Board Meeting and Women's Leadership Conference is now available by clicking here.
If you are arriving by air, you should make reservations for SuperShuttle Button listed below for a 10% discount. The more people you have on your reservation, the lower the cost per person. You are encouraged to use the CLUW Facebook page to coordinate your shuttle reservation with other attendees who may be arriving at the same time. Other options may be more economical if you are traveling alone.
Here is additional information on Transportation, Restaurants and Shopping in the area by clicking here.
Indiana’s Republican Candidate for Senate, Richard Mourdock, sent shock waves through social media and later network television during his final debate before the November 6 election on Tuesday evening, October 23rd. The candidates were asked for their perspective on exceptions to a strict anti-abortion position in the case of rape, incest or the life of the Mother. Mourdock’s response was “Life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen,…”. Add another pea to the pod inhabited by Troy Akin of Missouri.
The social media site Twitter lit up immediately from people following the debate. Some referred to him as “a nut job.” Others tweeted that it “renders him disqualified.”
Ironically, earlier that same day, a campaign ad taped by Mitt Romney endorsing Mourdock, began to air. But near the end of the debate, Romney’s campaign was disengaging from Mourdock’s statement while still endorsing him for US Senate. Many of us in Indiana question how you can simultaneously endorse a candidate but not his policies.
CLUW congratulates CWA and IBEW for successfully reaching a tentative agreement this week with Verizon. Verizon’s 45,000 workers still have to vote, but the proposed contract is strong and will preserve good, middle class jobs.
Despite billions of dollars in profits, Verizon attempted to exploit the current economic climate to slash health benefits, eliminate pensions, outsource jobs, and undermine collective bargaining for its workers. But Verizon’s workers and allies stopped the communications giant's assault and defended good jobs.
Workers from New England to Virginia struck for nearly two weeks in August 2011 when the old contract expired. Both unions agreed to return to work and extend the expired contract. Verizon and the unions had been engaged in intensive negotiations under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service since mid-summer.
“We stood up to the most sweeping and intensive attack on our standard of living and bargaining rights in the history of the telecommunications industry,” said Chris Shelton, Vice President for CWA District One. "The unity and determination of 34,000 CWA members since bargaining began in June 2011 has produced a new agreement that preserves intact our members’ pension and job security, provides for a substantial wage increase, and preserves a high-quality health plan."
"In this tough economic climate, with many politicians and CEOs preaching more and more austerity for the middle class, working families at Verizon stood strong and stuck together to get the best possible agreement,” said IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill. “We don’t agree with everything in it, but it allows us to move forward and continue to fight for good middle-class jobs at Verizon in the years to come.”
We would like to invite you to join us for the Biennial CLUW State Conference this October in Columbus, Ohio. Our goal for this meeting is to determine common problems and concerns and to develop action programs to effectively address the challenges we face at work, home and in our communities. This is an important election year, and it is critical that we develop strategies to meet our goals of electing worker-and-women friendly candidates.
The conference will kick off on Sunday evening, October 7, at 6:00 PM with a Welcome Reception featuring Connie Shultz, Pulitzer prize winning journalist and wife of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. On Monday morning we will begin at 10:00 AM, and expect to run until 3:00 PM, with lunch provided. There is no charge for the reception, registration or lunch.
Hotel Accommodations are available at the Renaissance Hotel, we have a block of rooms reserved if you are interested in staying overnight on Sunday. We have a secured a single/double room rate of $129/night plus tax, to make your reservation either call the hotel at 877.901.6632 or 614.228.5050 and ask for the AFL-CIO Coalition of Labor Union Women room block or logon and make your reservation at Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel. The deadline for the $129 room rate is September 10, 2012. Valet parking charges will be $10/day.
Conference Information:
Renaissance Hotel Downtown Columbus
50 N. Third Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.228.5050
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Reception – 6:00 PM
Lunch provided
*Attendees on their own for breakfast
Monday, October 8, 2012
CLUW Conference - 10:00 AM till 3:00 PM
Please submit the enclosed registration form either by mail, email or fax to Pam Duncan, no later than September 28, 2012.
Please make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel by calling their 24 hour call center at 1.800.270.7711 (code: Coalition of Labor Union Women) no later than October 15th. You may also reserve directly online by clicking here.
Room rate is $119.00 single/double plus tax (currently 10.85%). Complimentary fitness center access, 10% off spa services and products and complimentary over-night parking is being offered to CLUW guests. Individuals will be required to provide a valid credit card to guarantee each room and the $50 daily incidental authorization that is required. Full payment of one night’s lodging will be charged to the credit card used for the room guarantee in the event that a guest does not cancel her reservation prior to 6 PM the day before the scheduled arrival. Guests must notify the hotel 24 hours and no later than by 4 PM prior to check out for an early check out to avoid charges.
Check in is after 4 PM the day of arrival and before 11 AM the day of departure.
CLUW is joining with our allies to focus on registering, educating and getting out the young woman’s vote.
CLUW is one of 5 national organizations that have joined with the American Association of University Woman (AAUW) Action Fund’s “It’s My Vote: I Will Be Heard” campaign.
The AAUW campaign targets California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia and will be concentrating on getting out the vote of young women. Because according to AAUW, “There are as many millennial as there are baby boomers — and women ages 18–31 have enormous potential to be as potent a force in politics for years to come. The difference right now is that millennial have yet to establish a consistent pattern of voting (studies have shown that voting is actually habit-forming). However, fewer millennial voters participated in the 2010 election compared with 2008.”
CLUW has been invited to participate in Get Out the Vote training and to participate with AAUW branches on coordinated activity.
In March AAUW made a Power Point presentation at CLUW’s The Working Woman’s Vote: Making the Difference Conference. To find out more about the program please check out the power point here.
You can also visit the website for campaign information and to take advantage of their great Voter Registration tool at My Vote 2012.
In another arena, CLUW will be joining a collaborative effort spearheaded by the National Women’s Law Center called: THIS IS PERSONAL. According to the campaign overview, “This campaign aims to educate and galvanize hundreds of thousands of millennial women (age 18-35), with a focus on women of color, to protect reproductive health, including access to birth control, abortion, and other reproductive health care.” The first phase will involve voter registration, GOTV and a pledge-to-vote campaign in partnership with Rock the Vote. The website will launch September 13th.
For more information and to get involved contact Carol Rosenblatt at the CLUW Office.
Just a year ago Walmart workers were involved in forming the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart), but since then many of those workers have experienced retaliation and even firings. CLUW hosted a brown bag lunch on August 8th at the National AFL-CIO Headquarters in Washington, DC for a dialogue with Angela Williamson and Wessa Milien, both from Florida and members of OUR Walmart who have been outspoken about the need for respect in the workplace and were terminated by the company this summer.
Sharing their stories with the labor and women’s communities was one way to build support.
As the largest retailer in the world, Walmart has enormous power to set trends for the economy as a whole. Walmart shapes the way we work and live. Even though women make up the majority of the Walmart global workforce they are not paid equal to their male counterparts and are grossly underrepresented in management positions.
At the same time that the Walton family (who own half of Walmart) have the same wealth as the bottom 42% of American families, Walmart pays its associates an average of $8.81 an hour. That means even full-time workers at Walmart only make an average of just $15,500 a year.
On August 8th in Washington, DC Angela and Wessa spoke about their experience as Walmart Associates and how their initial enthusiasm as employees quickly turned sour. They gave examples of work hours being reduced, schedules changed without notice and Walmart demanding that workers donate an hour of work off the clock. They described retaliation experienced when a worker takes sick leave for legitimate illness and the low salaries they receive that make paying for their own health insurance impossible. They talked about the intimidation and fear that so many workers experience when they become Walmart Associates. However, OUR Walmart members like Wessa and Angela are touring the country to meet with Walmart Associates and to tell their stories to the broader community to expose the real Walmart and to find support.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women encourages our members and friends to learn more and get involved.
CLUW Members are encouraged to participate in the National Day of Action on Monday, September 17, 2012 for Standing Up to Verizon. We have even provided you this link to Find An Action Near You. Here is some background on the struggles at Verizon which are included in this Call To Action Flier. This video is just one of the many moving stories of Verizon employees who have been fired.
In 2008, 6 million Americans told the US Census that they did not vote because they did not know how to register or they missed their state's voter registration deadline. In 2012, we want to make sure no American is left out. On September 25, 2012, volunteers, celebrities, and organizations (including CLUW) from all over the country will "hit the streets" for National Voter Registration Day. This single day of coordinated volunteer, technology and media efforts will create widespread awareness of voter registration opportunities--allowing us to reach tens of thousands of voters or more who we could not reach otherwise. Please visit the National Voter Registration Daywebsite by clicking here.
On Saturday, August 11, 2012 thousands of Union Members from across the Nation assembled for the Workers Stand for America Rally in Philadelphia, PA. This event was held on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. This rally focused on a "Second Bill of Rights" outlining guarantees for full employment and a “living wage,” quality education, health care and security in retirement as well as collective bargaining.
CLUW chapter members from the Southwestern PA Chapter (Pittsburgh) and the Philadelphia CLUW Chapter participated in addition to CLUW members from other states. A big thank you to Philadelphia CLUW members who volunteered to collect contributions for wristbands ( the proceeds to be donated to a charitable organization) and collect signatures on petitions calling for a Second Bill of Rights that will be presented at the Republican and Democratic Conventions.
The IBEW (International of Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) organized the rally and according to Juanita G. Luiz, IBEW Int’l Representative who was involved in the volunteer activity, around 7,600 signatures were collected that day and about 40,000 individuals were in attendance, many more than anticipated. Carolyn Williams, CLUW’s National Vice President (IBEW) appreciated the CLUW presence too.
Representing the Coalition of Labor Union Women were Susan Reardon (left) and Kathleen Riordan (right) of Philadelphia CLUW showing off their chapter’s new CLUW flags that will withstand all weather conditions for demonstrations and rallies in the future..
Nov 25, 2012
This election season CLUW is pleased to announce our WHY WE VOTE campaign. The goal is for labor union women to share why they are voting this year and what issues are important to them. Our campaign, WHY WE VOTE, aims to shine a spot light on why labor union women have a lot at stake when they go to the polls.
We need YOU to submit, a picture, a video (the campaign is now expanded to include videos) or short message explaining why you, as a labor union woman, are voting in this election. What issues are important to you? Your message can be general or specific. What we would really love to see is a group photo, putting the WE in WHY WE VOTE! Celebrate the power of unity, and share with us why you and your union sisters vote!
Please send to Carol Rosenblatt at csrosenblatt@cluw.org or submit it to our CLUW Blog. We will post what we receive from you there.
By Carolyn J. Jacobson, creator of CLUW's Contraceptive Equity Project and Cervical Cancer Prevention Works project
cjacobson@cluw.org
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), starting today, all new health care plans will be required at the start of their plan year to cover a variety of preventive health care services with no co-pay or deductible.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women Condemns Congressman Akin’s Remarks
It is Time for More Union Women to Run for Office
August 21, 2012: The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) expresses their outrage at the sexist and demeaning remarks by Congressman Akin referring to “legitimate rape”. This is one more example of the war on women and it will not be tolerated.
This war has been evidenced by those who would limit a woman’s right to obtain contraceptives thru employer sponsored health plans if that employer happens to be a Catholic institution (in violation of the Affordable Care Act), or the failure of the House of Representatives to pass the inclusive Violence Against Women Act, or states having ballot measures where a fetus is called a person and has more rights than a mother and many other examples curtailing a woman’s right to choose. Women should have the right to make their own choices about their reproductive health and all other aspects of their health and lives. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Congressman Akin’s remarks are reprehensible.
CLUW’s president, Karen J. See stated that “We are deeply offended by Congressman Akin’s remarks, but let’s use this as a galvanizing moment to push for increased voter registration particularly among young women and let’s encourage union women to run for office so we have a progressive voice supporting and defending our concerns in the halls of Congress and in the States.”
CLUW is a partner in the Women’s Campaign Fund’s She Should Run program that encourages pro reproductive choice women to run for office.
Women still make only 77 cents to the dollar men earn in America. Worldwide, "women are paid 18 percent on average less than their male counterparts at work." This pay gap has persisted without change for a decade.
Efforts to fix this gap continue. This summer, the U.S. Department of Labor is offering new clear-cut guides for women and employers alike on how to comply with existing guidelines, as well as how to speak up or make changes if they observe an imbalance in compensation.
Each guide offers background information on why equal pay matters for families and fairness, a section on specific laws pertaining to equal pay and a list of resources. The guide for employees provides steps to take if discrimination is perceived or suspected, while the guide for employers offers steps for reviewing compensation practices to ensure equity.
The employee's report reads:
Women are legally entitled to equal employment opportunities, including the right to earn a paycheck that is free from unlawful bias, and, in many cases, the right to discuss their pay with colleagues.
At the conference, former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin urged the full participation of men and women to change the culture of the workplace not just for equal pay, but also to ensure work-life balance for everyone.
Kunin said:
"It's not a feminist issue exclusively, it's not a women's issue exclusively....What is so important at this point is that men join the parade."
Tell Them: End the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 a year. Oppose any extension of tax cuts for the richest 2%—even a temporary one! It’s time for the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.
People who earn over $1 million a year get an average tax break of $143,000 from the Bush tax cuts. People making about $50,000 a year get an average tax break of about $1,000.
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: Access to Preventive Care for Women in the New Health Care Law: Frequently Asked Questions
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.
The U.S. Senate voted 52-47 to block the Paycheck Fairness Bill. This legislation would have helped close the pay gap between men and women and offer incentives to employers who do not discriminate by paying lower wages to female employees who do the same work as their male counterparts.
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. CLUW chapters were involved in various activities throughout the country.
On June 5, 2012, Carol S. Rosenblatt, Executive Director of CLUW released the following statement after this legislation was defeated. Here is a Fact Sheet that was prepared by CLUW concerning the Paycheck Fairness Bill of 2012.
Liz Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO made these comments and referenced Annie Bolgiano, who is an Intern at CLUW National.
When Annie Bolgiano was growing up, her mother, a forest firefighter, told her daughter she could become anything she wanted. Then Annie went to college and learned another lesson:
"You can go into whatever profession you want, but you are statistically unlikely to make a salary equal to your male counterparts."
Annie’s “uninhibited dreams for the future” collided with the reality that women in the United States make 77 cents to a man’s dollar, and in some professions, specifically high-paying careers, that disparity is much higher. Although nearly half of all workers in the United States are women, we tend to hold lower-paying jobs overall, even when we have the exact same title as men. Read the entire article by clicking here.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women Calls for the Defeat of Proposition 32:
Condemns the Right Wing Effort to Silence the Voice of Working Women and Men in California
September 15, 2012: The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) expresses their outrage at the thinly disguised effort to suppress the voice of union members by eliminating their political voice through the so-called "paycheck protection" initiative to appear on the ballot in California as Proposition 32. This measure is supposed to restrict political contributions by unions and corporations, but its real target is working people. And we are not surprised. In Republican dominated State Houses throughout the country over 800 initiatives have been introduced to remove the voices of working people - by eliminating their voice on the job by restricting collective bargaining rights or eliminating their political voice as in efforts like Proposition 32.
In a piece in the San Francisco Examiner, John Logan, a professor of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University comments, "Prop. 32 promoters say that the measure treats corporations and unions equitably, but by prohibiting payroll deductions to collect political contributions, Prop. 32 would all but eliminate unions' voice. Unions rely on payroll deduction to raise funds for politics; corporations use profits. Yet the initiative places no meaningful limitations on spending by wealthy business interests. The measure would prohibit direct donations to candidates and parties from corporate general funds, but this is not how most business interests exercise influence in Sacramento. It would not stop corporate Super PACs from contributing to candidates, nor does it limit corporate spending on ballot initiatives."
And another independent voice, the League of Women Voters says, "The initiative is not what it seems. It does not take money out of politics – because super PACs and independent expenditure committees are exempt from its controls. It is unfair and unbalanced, restricting unions while not stopping corporate special interests."
At a time when women workers are getting attacked on all sides: in their work life, where targeting public workers (for example) leads to the greatest job losses by women and in their private lives where decisions about health care and reproductive rights are being jeopardized - women need to be able to make informed decisions about what candidate supports their best interest and not have their influence restricted by undemocratic maneuvers like Proposition 32.
CLUW's President, Karen See states, "We are urging our members and friends to hit the streets to mobilize for a "No Vote" on Proposition 32. We are angry about this continued attack on working people and since this type of ballot measure has been rejected twice before in California in 1998 and 2005, let's make this three strikes and you're out!''
CLUW Members are Needed on Election Day as Poll Monitors!!
Working women can play an important role in protecting the vote by volunteering to sign up to be poll monitors.
CLUW is partnering with the AFL-CIO Election Protection Program, My Vote, My Right, and your help is needed on Election Day, November 6, 2012.
Ensuring that all eligible voters are able to cast their ballot and that every vote is counted is our top priority. The protection of voting rights at the polls on Election Day will be critical.
Earlier in the season you were asked to volunteer to serve as poll workers, but now poll monitors are needed. Poll monitors who work at the polls on Election Day will help preserve our right to democratic and fair elections.
My Vote, My Right is targeting the following states: Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. If you live in one of those states you can volunteer on line by clicking here and make sure that you include your union and “CLUW” in the spaces provided.
Your name and contact information will be given to the My Vote, My Right local voter protection coordinator,who will be in touch with you with more information about becoming a poll monitor on Election Day and the Election Protection Program efforts in your county as we get closer to Election Day.
Becoming a poll monitor is an important commitment to safeguarding our voting rights. We need union activists working outside the polls on Election Day to ensure that voters in line to cast their ballots receive correct information about voting procedures and their rights.
If you do not live in one of the target states you are still needed as a poll monitor, but you must contact Carol Rosenblatt at the CLUW office at csrosenblatt@cluw.org to indicate your interest and we will work with the AFL-CIO by connecting you to a community organization (such as Common Cause) in your area that is seeking poll monitors.
Equal Pay Day is observed in April to indicate how far into each year a woman must work to receive as much as a man was paid in the previous year. Tuesday symbolizes the day when women’s wages catch up with men’s wages from the previous week. Equal pay has been the law since 1963. Yet almost 50 years later, women are still paid less than men—even when we have similar education, skills and experience.
"It is unimaginable that we are still talking about equal pay in the United States in 2013. Yet, here we are with no equality in sight. Today pay inequity has a broader reach than ever before with more women working and providing for their families as the major financial support. We have more families and more children suffering as a result. I'm thankful that my Union has guaranteed me the same pay as my male counterpart. I wish every woman was afforded the same guarantee!"
Millie Hall said,”On Tuesday, April 9th, we will again renew our commitment to end wage discrimination and our
“This year in June we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act. In 1963 hopes were high that the 41 cent differential between men's and women's pay would be eradicated in a few years. But, in the last fifty years, we have advanced only 18 cents. At this rate it will take more than 100 years to erase the gap entirely. The picture for minority women is an even deeper differential and longer time span. This is not the promise of equality that America should hold for more than half of its population. We need to educate our legislators and our families to press for the Paycheck Fairness Act. Most of all to educate women - girlfriends, mothers, daughters, sisters, granddaughters - to negotiate their salaries and to monitor workplaces for fairness. I want my daughters and brand new granddaughter to have the same rate of pay as the men who do the same work.”
“A gentleman and I were doing the same job but he received more pay for it. I had been doing the job longer. I had state employment seniority. I even had to train him. Once again I, as a woman was cheated out of pay that I rightfully deserved and my co-worker with less seniority and knowledge got paid more. Why? Because he was a man. … These experiences drove me to be a job steward for CA State Employees Association (CSEA) and also with Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The negatives turned into positives for those that I have helped within my 26 years as a job steward and that I still help when and where I can. I also know that this kind of discrimination is why we need to get the Paycheck Fairness Act passed.”
Across-the-board budget cuts—called sequestration—will cost more than 1 million jobs this year and many more jobs over the next decade. There is a simple solution to make this problem go away: repeal sequestration.
This month marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legalized reproductive health care in our country and put the decision whether to have an abortion right where it belongs — with women. But if the last two years of attacks is any indication, the right granted by Roe is not a given — in fact, it's at stake as we speak.
On Monday, January 21, 2013, we will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, which was first enacted by Congress in 1986 as a federal holiday. This was in part to celebrate Dr. King’s life and to recognize him for what he did with his life serving others. 
Ohio Registration Form.pdf
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. 
