W.I.N. (Women's Involvement Now)
Coalition of Labor Union Women
February 24, 20102010 midwest school for women workers
Midwest School for Women Workers: ‘Taking a stand in tough economic times’
MINNEAPOLIS – Addressing the challenges posed by the economic crisis will be the focus of the 2010 Midwest School for Women Workers hosted by the Labor Education Service at the University of Minnesota.
The School, open to all working women, will be held July 28 to Aug. 1 on the university’s Minneapolis campus.
The School is a four-day residential program that brings together participants from several states for general sessions, skills workshops and networking. It is one of four regional women’s schools sponsored by the United Association for Labor Education and hosted by university labor education programs. Minnesota last hosted the School in 1999.
This year’s theme is “Taking a stand in tough economic times.” Participants will include rank-and-file union members, activists, staff and officers.
Tuition is $550 for resident students and $350 for commuters. Discounts are available for early registration. Child care, simultaneous English/Spanish interpretation and a limited number of scholarships will be offered.
Agenda and registration information are available on the Labor Education Service website, www.les.csom.umn.edu, or call 612-624-5020 to receive a brochure.
October 19, 2009CLUW elects three people from District 143 to serve on its executive board
Three District 143 members were elected to the CLUW National Executive Board (NEB) last week at CLUW's Los Angeles convention. The IAM now holds five seats on the board.
Those elected to a four- year term are: Barbara (Bobbi) Betonti - MEM LL 2763, Diane Tomevi - SEA LL 1040 and Vickie Cheek - MSP LL 1833.
January 22, 2009Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
The Senate passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and rejected numerous amendments that would have gutted this important legislation. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is a response to a harmful and unjust U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made it just about impossible for victims of pay discrimination to seek justice in the courts, no matter how severe the discrimination they face. It amends Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so that the statute of limitations runs from the date of the actual payment of a discriminatory wage, not just from the time of hiring.
CLUW thanks you for urging your members of Congress in both the House and Senate to pass this legislation and encourages President Obama to waste no time signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law.
In other good news regarding women's rights, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued yesterday reversed a court of appeals decision that limited women's and girls' ability to challenge the violation of their constitutional rights when they face discrimination in education.
In the case, Fitzgerald v. Barnstable School Committee, a kindergarten girl claimed that a third grade boy regularly harassed her on the school bus. Dissatisfied with the school's response, her parents sued under Title IX, the federal statute that bars sex discrimination in schools that receive federal money, and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution, which is enforced through another federal statute known as Section 1983.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the parents under Title IX, but the Supreme Court reversed that ruling. Effective enforcement of both Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution is essential to combat sex discrimination in educational institutions.
January 9, 2009
House Passes Two Pay Fairness Bills
"It's a one-two punch for women, that could knock out many pay inequities," said NOW President Kim Gandy as the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills today that would advance fair pay for women.
In a vote of 247-171 the House passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (HR 11) to address the setback delivered by the U.S. Supreme Court last year for women victims of pay discrimination, and in a 256-163 vote they passed the Paycheck Fairness Act (HR 12). Thanks to the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and George Miller (D-Calif.), these bills were on the schedule for the opening days of the 111th Congress and serve as an encouraging sign for things to come. Women voted overwhelmingly to elect President-elect Barack Obama, who said during his presidential campaign that he would make pay equity a priority in his administration.
Women voters also helped to elect a Congress that is more women-friendly than it has been in over a decade. We have worked for and have been waiting for this day in the House. The Ledbetter legislation, which was blocked in the Republican-led Senate last year, will essentially reverse the Supreme Court decision that requires workers to file charges on a pay discrimination claim within the first six months of receiving their first discriminatory paycheck.
The Court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear gave employers the go-ahead to discriminate as long as they weren't caught in the first six months after the onset of their illegal actions. The companion bill, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which did not even make it to the Senate floor last year, closes loopholes that allow employers to pay men and women discriminatorily and provides consequences. "NOW has been working since our founding over 40 years ago to end wage discrimination against women. We celebrate this day and look forward to the Senate's upcoming vote on both bills," said Gandy.
The bills will go as a package to the Senate and Majority Leader Harry Reid has promised that "pay equity" legislation is at the top of his to-do list.
While NOW is proud of the House for today's bipartisan victory, we are reminded that this is just a beginning. We will look to the courts to honor and enforce the equal pay and civil rights laws that protect women workers. We will continue to work with the new Congress to ensure that women's economic security and employment opportunities are included in any stimulus package, that paid sick days and paid leave for caregivers become a reality, and that our minimum wage is a livable wage, especially for women who manage families as the sole wage earner. In addition, we will be working with the Obama administration and Secretary of Labor-designate Hilda Solis to ensure that the U.S. Department of Labor once again fulfills its mission to represent the interests of working people. Statistics on women's work and women workers must again be collected, and overtime pay, comp time regulations and family leave policies need to be reviewed and strengthened. We thank the House for passage of the two bills, but now all eyes will be on the Senate where we expect a bipartisan majority to pass the House bills and send them to the President for his signature. We cannot wait another forty years.
IAM October 2008, Sister of the Month
IAM Headquarters has selected District 143 Trustee Vickie Cheek, a member of the IAM in Local Lodge 846/BWI and an employee of Northwest Airlines, as Sister of the Month. IAM Sister Victoria (Vickie) Cheek is a 12 year member of the IAM in local lodge 846, which is affiliated with Transportation District Lodge 143. She is the Recording Secretary for her local and Trustee for her District. Other E-Board positions she’s held include: Communicator, Educator and Local Lodge Trustee. In addition, she has and continues to serve on a wide variety of committees within the local and district.
Sister Vickie is employed as a Reservation Sales Agent at Northwest Airlines, but is a born activist. From serving as PTA President to participating in community rallies and labor marches, she has always sought to fight for the greater good.
Widowed while pregnant at the age of 28, Sister Vickie understands overcoming adversity and balancing the demands of work and family. Believing we all have a responsibility to make things better for future generations, becoming more active in her union was a natural fit. She began by becoming a shop steward, then worked to fill-in whenever she saw a need. In order to facilitate better communication, she worked to create The Friendship Flyer newsletter for her local and served as Editor for 11 years. In addition, she's been elected to represent the IAM on the National Executive Board for the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW).
Sister Vickie credits her success as a union leader to the mentoring she received from “seasoned” union sisters and brothers. They helped open doors for her, offered her a place to stay when attending union activities on her own time and encouraged her to continue taking the next step. In return, Sister Vickie has tried to do the same for her union sisters starting out. She calls on everyone to take the time to mentor the next era of union leaders. For sisters looking to become union leaders, she says, “Carpe Diem!” Don’t be afraid to ask for help, find mentors, build networks and take advantage of every opportunity, even if you have to use your own time to do it.
In her spare time, Sister Vickie is very devoted to her 5-year old grandson Matthew. In addition she is active in her church and other community organizations. She volunteers to speak at “career days” to not only talk about her job, but also about her union and the labor movement. Earlier this year, Sister Vickie was one of the recipients of the Future Union Leaders Scholarship from Union Privilege. She expects to graduate from the National Labor College in June.
IAM November 2008, Sister of the Month
The IAM Women’s and Human Rights Department selected long-time Detroit Local 141 activist Sharon Caldwell to be the November Sister of the Month. Caldwell has been an IAM member for 23 years and served as a Vice President for District 143 and as General Chairperson.
The daughter of a 25-year veteran of the United Auto Workers (UAW) staff, Caldwell was raised to believe in union values. As a shop steward for 20 years, Caldwell also saw first hand the need to educate women more about their union and helped establish the Women’s Involvement Now (WIN) Committee at District 143.
Caldwell regularly urges fellow members to get more involved saying, “Keep moving forward; don’t get discouraged by the negativity.”
Caldwell believes that women are natural multi-taskers, but no one can do it alone. As a recently widowed mother of five children, she knows how important it is to be able to depend on your sisters. Finally, Caldwell advocates the mentoring of younger women by more experienced women, whose experiences are an invaluable and inspiring resource.