The Coalition of Labor Union Women is America's only national organization for union women. Formed in 1974, CLUW is a nonpartisan organization within the union movement.

The primary mission of CLUW is to unify all union women in a viable organization to determine our common problems and concerns and to develop action programs within the framework of our unions to deal effectively with our objectives.

At its founding convention in Chicago, Illinois, CLUW adopted four basic goals of action: to promote affirmative action in the workplace; to strengthen the role of women in unions; to organize the unorganized women; and to increase the involvement of women in the political and legislative process.

These goals continue to be the cornerstone of CLUW's activities as members speak out for equal pay, child and elder care benefits, job security, safe workplaces, affordable health care, contraceptive equity, and protection from sexual harassment and violence at work.

With members from 60 international and national unions across the U.S. and Canada, CLUW has a strong network of more than 75 chapters. CLUW is endorsed by the AFL-CIO and its international and national unions. CLUW local chapters educate members, keep them up-to-date on a variety of issues of concern to working families, and provide a support network for women in unions.

President's Column

July-September 2005 CLUW News

-- Marsha Zakowski, CLUW National President

At the 13th Biennial Convention, I had the honor of being elected national president of our organization. I will make every effort with your help to continue and advance our work on behalf of union women and workers. I want to thank everyone involved in the convention for its success. I thank, as well, every member who continues to promote our goals and programs in our chapters and in their unions.

We passed several important resolutions and
reaffirmed commitments that we must implement and act upon. One hits at the heart of our existence—the Employee Free Choice Act.

On October 19, 2005, for the second time this year, Senate Republicans voted against a proposal by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) to raise the minimum wage, which has not been increased since 1997. Yet, they are considering giving themselves their 8th pay raise since the last minimum wage increase. Another proposal by Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) that would have raised the minimum wage, but would have exempted millions of workers, cut overtime pay and weakened job safety and health protections, was successfully defeated by Senate Democrats. The federal minimum wage remains frozen.

Women are disproportionately represented in low paying jobs and would benefit the most from a minimum wage increase. Women not only earn less, but have fewer opportunities to build economic security. By joining a union, women earn about 34 percent more and have an advantage of pension and medical health benefits. Unions also narrow the existing gender gap in wages and benefits.

The breakdown in labor laws that protect workers’ right to organize and the growing number of anti-union tactics is a threat to workers who seek to organize and a threat to the growth of the labor movement. The Employee Free Choice Act (SB 842 and HR 1696) will restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain collectively. CLUW is committed to lobby for and participate in activities towards its passage.

December 10 is International Human Rights Day and CLUW joins the labor movement in a national day of action with activities across the country to bring attention to the “daily attack on workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain collectively.” I urge every chapter and member to participate in actions planned for this day and visibly demonstrate CLUW’s commitment to closing the wage gap and organizing women workers by strengthening the labor movement. This day is another opportunity to show our unity and build our membership across the country. Please contact the CLUW office or visit www.cluw.org and www.aflcio.org for updated information.

Thank you for your dedication, commitment and activism.