Union Women: Moving Into the Next Millennium

BEFORE ATTENDING THE PACE Northeast Conference, Francisville, La., Local 4-927 member Alice Young was unfamiliar with labor laws, mobilization, organizing, and how to handle workers' compensation and the stress workers encounter on the job.

Now she is sharing the information she gained at the conference with her coworkers and is filing a harassment grievance against a supervisor who allegedly threatened her for filing a grievance on an accident she was involved in.

"If I hadn't gone to the conference, I wouldn't have had the strength to file the harassment grievance," said Young,

Empowering PACE women to become leaders and make a difference for their union was the goal of the Northeast Area Women's Conference held April 9-11 in Philadelphia.

Over 75 women and men--some from other areas of the country-- attended the two-day event that was filled with speeches from labor leaders and educational sessions. There were workshops on women's health, labor law, organizing and mobilizing, combating racism and sexism, stress reduction, bargaining for work and Cook and family issues, ergonomics, political action singing Solidarity Forever" at the end of the and communication, conference. violence and sexual harassment and leadership skills.

Setting the tone for the focus on leadership skills was Leeann Anderson, executive assistant to President Boyd Young. Anderson said that in the future over half of the work force will be women, and that women are more receptive to the concept of collective action and more likely to vote yes in a force becomes representation election than their male more diverse in counterparts.

"Our challenge is to step forward when the world is more receptive to women leadership and make a difference for our union," she said.

However, taking on leadership roles is risky, Anderson said, and is approached differently by women and men. "Many of us feel that before running for office, before beginning a new program, or running that committee--before risking leadership-we need to know more, be more assertive, have better communication skills. As if, in one shining moment, we will be anointed with all of the skills we need to lead."

Anderson cited a recent poll that showed men were over twice as likely as women to apply for a job where they knew they were not proficient in all of the required skills. She said the same poll revealed that over 80 percent of women would not even apply unless they felt they were at a "mastery" level for all of those skills.

But as the work force becomes more diverse in the next century, it will take rank-and-file participation, especially from women and people of color, for PACE to gain a foothold in the workplace.

"The people who are really going to organize are the people sitting in this room," said Executive Vice President Robert E. Wages. "Workers respond best to other workers."

The PACE Northeast Area Women's Conference is a continuation of the women's conferences the OCAW started having in 1989. In 1994 OCAW convention delegates passed a constitutional amendment to create a national women's rank-and-file committee because they saw the need for women members to have a voice.

With well-paying union jobs, the women attending the conference were atypical of most women workers. Most women enter low-wage jobs that do not offer a pension, have few benefits and are part-time positions.

"If we don't try to help these women--the majority are new workers, immigrants, people of color--employers will be able to keep wages and benefits down," said AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson in a special address to the conference attendees. "A sense of insecurity, even for union workers, is there."

Chavez-Thompson also emphasized the importance of equal pay for women and cited figures that the lack of pay equity costs families $4,000 per year. She talked of the groundwork the AFL-CIO is laying for stronger federal enforcement with its introduction of equal pay legislation in 20 states.

PACE Region One Vice President Gary Cook said the union needed the attendees' help in training and recruiting people. He also cited the importance of organizing.

"As long as someone is making minimum wage, you're making less; as long as not many have pensions, your pension is in trouble," Cook said. "Let's organize, educate and make this the best union in the country."

Cook also told the delegates how his mother was a union member during World War Two. "She said the proudest day of her life was when I became secretary-treasurer ofthe state AFL-CIO."

Wages told the conference attendees that they needed to think about how to outreach to other women members throughout the country, communicate with each other, and use The PACEsetter and the international union's Web site. "It takes movement from the rank-and-file women to make changes happen," he added.

Those attending the conference took the union leaders' words to heart. "I look forward to the challenge of what I can add to the union," said Clarice St. Luce of PACE Local 1-300.

"I know I can bring something to the union," said PACE Local 5-0713 member Linda Christian, who is one of five women who work beside 60 men on the shop floor. "Often times, women's issues are overlooked by men. This is not on purpose, but reverts to their upbringing. Women are taught to be obedient and men are taught to be assertive. But we women can become assertive."

Crown Boycott News, June 1999