Home 
Past Issues October 2005 CLUW Holds Biennial Conference
| CLUW Holds Biennial Conference |
|
|
|
|
By Lotty Blumenthal The Coalition of Labor Union Women held its 13th National Biennial Conference from September 12 to September 17th, 2005. The national organization has chapters both in all states and internationally. The organization may become even more important since the split among unions since its members are from all unions and may become a place for a common meeting ground. The convention theme was: “Union Women Building the Movement.” An early program stressed “Globalization and Its impact on Women Workers.” It included information about how anti-union action by Wal-Mart is having an effect on unions. The opening ceremonies had the flags of the unions presented. Carrying the AFT banner was Chicago’s Helen Ramirez Odell and AFT delegates from other States. After the plenary sessions, there were 13 workshops, vendors, exhibits and tours of Detroit Renaissance Place, owned by General Motors (union staffed). The closing invocation was given by Chicago’s own union icon Rev. Addie L. Wyatt of UFCW (the United Food and Commercial Workers).
After greetings by Mark Gaffney, President of Michigan State AFL-CIO, Marsha Zakowski (United Steel Workers), new National CLUW President, talked of the difficulties of becoming president at a time with increasing unemployment while there are disagreements in the unions. She added that the great support of vice-presidents of CLUW had helped through tough times. Receiving many cheers when named was Vice-President Connie Cordovilla, an AFT Washington D.C. Staff employee. Rules Committee’s co-chairs Sarah A. Puente, IBT, and Lorna Arrington, AFT, both of Texas, reported the rules for speaking. The main speaker of the first plenary was Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm who was escorted to the stage to the music of “We Are Family” and selected honor guard from various Michigan unions. She said historically — “Women don’t whine, they work.” She told of the women who had politically important jobs in Michigan government. She spoke of problems in bringing change to the state, especially in terms of education where a new program will pay $4,000 to each student who completes two years of college. She spoke of the need to eliminate discrimination in the workplace and the need for equal pay. She said she defends a woman’s right to choose. As much as those who need help should be supported, especially with health care, the government should not intrude in private lives. She said basic pay should be increased to at least $7.15 an hour since it takes an hour’s pay now to pay for 2 gallons of gas. She said President Bush should have some of the current profit of gas companies go toward social programs. She advocated teen age girls be encouraged to finish school before getting pregnant. She spoke of the adverse affects of the global economy and the need for a U. S. President who will advocate a fair trade policy to keep our jobs from going out of the U.S.A. “NAFTA and CAFTA have given us the Shafta,” she said. She said we need a President who advocates for health care for moral reasons and economic reasons. She said both Japanese and German companies have told her they are looking for workers with job skills. She told them Michigan could provide 20,000 workers. A new plant for auto engines is being built by a joint effort of Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Honda because they can provide skilled employees, because of the labor force. The world has changed so in the last five years that our students must go beyond high school. That is the reason that Michigan will guarantee two years of community college for every child. Thus, the $4,000.00 will cover the cost. Ron Gettelfinger, President of UAW, said we witness a tragedy when our government failed to meet a crisis, quoting Barack Obama saying “Our government of having an empathy deficit.” While the suffering continues, “Companies are being awarded contracts without bids.” These contracts are at the “expense of working men and women.” Meanwhile men, women and resources are sent to Iraq. As labor, we must encourage government, whether large or not, to be good government. Labor must speak up about Social Security, especially since the majority of those over 65 are women. He spoke of horrible work conditions in the garment industry in Bangladesh and China. He said that Labor must stand with workers throughout the world for job justice. He mentioned the largest employer of the sweatshops throughout the world is Wal-Mart. He said that despite the challenges and trials for labor, unions will prevail because we have “unions in our heart,...we will stand together...for equity and justice...we can make a difference, we will make a difference,...solidarity forever.” The afternoon plenary was greeted by Donald Boggs, President of Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. Since 1980, he stated, “Women have outvoted men.... In the labor movement, women make up a third of workers in this country.” He said gender discrimination is still prevalent today. One of the biggest recent lawsuits is against Wal-Mart for gender discrimination. In Michigan, only 20 percent of women have college degrees, ranking 37 among states. But, recent changes are showing an effect in education growth in Michigan for women. He said both local, national and international unions must elect more women to positions of importance in the labor movement. Speaker Diana M. Porter, Director of Policy, Alliance for Retired Women — escorted to the stage to the tune of the Beatles “When I’m 65" — told of the need to protect Social Security, relating the number of women depending on it. She told of the problems financially and healthwise of those over 65, such as 59% of income being spent on housing. She stated that both areas are “not how they should be done, but how they are improved...” as the criteria upon which we should evaluate programs. She said when President Bush sees a bad idea, he runs to it and holds on to it. She said he wants his legacy to be the dismembership of Social Security. She said, “To him we say, “Hell No!” Numerous panels were also held. As a member of CLUW, I presented an amendment, adopted later as a friendly amendent, that CLUW members temporarily out of work due to disasters or work stoppages have reduced CLUW dues. Bea Lumpkin, AFT delegate, Chicago CLUW, presented a resolution from the floor later, to be more aggressive in recovering pirated pensions by companies declaring bankruptcies. Helen Ramirez-Odell read a resolution opposing nomination of John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ramirez-Odell also co-sponsored a resolution with Sarah A. Puente, of the Teamsters on health issues and “A Mother’s Right to Breastfeed.” The original resolution to “Stop Pension Piracy” was sponsored by Chicago Chapter President, CLUW, Katie Jordan, (UNITE-HERE) and Mari Wyatt, President Puget Sound CLUW. “Getting It Right For Our Children and Public Education” was sponsored by Connie Cordovilla, AFT.
The Friday Plenary had Nancy Wohlforth, Secretary-Treasure OPEIU speak about “Pride at Work.” Then Senator Diane Savino, New York State Senator, told of the need to both have union women in politics and supporting those in politics. The panel discussion “Organizing Programs Involving Women” was held by May Y. Chen, Vice President, Unite Here, Petee Talley, Secretary-Treasurer, Ohio State AFL-CIO, Denise Osgood, UAW, and JoAnn Johntony, AFSCME, Ohio Vice President, and discussed strategies. Clearly, despite the split in the AFL-CIO the members of the unions that were now formally on opposite sides of the national split were still working together within CLUW. After lunch, the 13 workshops were held. The Closing Plenary Saturday featured AFL-CIO Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson, Congresswoman Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, and Michigan State Senator Martha G. Scott (also a CLUW member). The final speakers were Charlene Batchelor (AFSCME) and Dr. Bill Hoffman, Director of the Pharmaceutical Industry Management Association. Afterward, Gloria T. Johnson, Past National President, installed the new officers. Rev. Addie L. Wyatt closed the session, followed by the singing of “Solidarity Forever.” Much to the disappointment of many, the Chicago Teachers Union funded only one of the AFT delegates — a staff member. Other AFT/CTU delegates were Phyllis McGee, Lotty Blumenthal, and Bea Lumpkin. Later, a reception honoring outgoing President Gloria T. Johnson would have the halls resounding to new words sung to the oldie rock song, “Gloria.” Throughout the Convention, Chicago CLUW members Jerilyn (Jerri) Fleming, Sandy Coffee, and Delores Wasserman acted as Sergeants-at-Arms, led by CLUW President Katie Jordan. |
|||
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|