The Fact Is Women Have Always Been a Key Factor in the Labor Movement
Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate gender equality, including the hardworking women membership of the IAM.
Women have always been key to the Labor Movement.
Labor History is Women’s History
Women’s work has powered American history, but it hasn’t always been easy. Here you can find the stories of people and places that have been part of the struggle to make life better for women at work. Some of these women came together in unions to demand fair pay and safe working conditions. They took to the streets in strikes and boycotts to make their voices heard. Others fought in courtrooms and meeting rooms for laws and policies that would protect women workers and give them a fair shake. Often, their struggles connected to broader fights against racism and sexism and for a fairer society.
In Case You Don’t Have a CLUW
The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), organization of women trade unionists representing more than 60 American and international labour unions.
The CLUW was founded at a conference in Chicago in June 1973 by a number of women labour union leaders, notably Olga Mada of the United Auto Workers and Addie Wyatt of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More than 3,000 women attended the initial conference and endorsed goals of increasing the number of organized women workers, implementing affirmative action, working for passage of legislation favorable to women workers, and increasing women’s involvement in their unions. In 1978 CLUW established the Center for Education and Research, a nonprofit research body and resource centre dedicated to empowering women workers and developing leadership strategies for women within organized labour.
The CLUW supports legislation to end wage discrimination and other gender-based inequities. It also supports the implementation of child-care and parental-leave policies. The CLUW publishes a number of publications and educational materials to update and educate members about current issues of importance to working women. In accordance with its principle of increasing women’s political involvement in labour issues, the CLUW encourages its members to write letters to legislators and to participate in political demonstrations.
Note: Some Information contained on this website appears as obtained or referenced from 3rd party sources and are not necessarily the views or opinions of districtlodge2020.org or the IAMAW. The factual accuracy of such information, to the best of our ability has been researched and neither districtlodge2020.org, nor the IAMAW accepts responsibility for any inaccurate information.
The Women’s Movement is widespread, and labor and women have been partners in the fight for equality for all who toil for many years. The video below is just one story of struggle amongst many.
