Happenings in the TWU Women’s Committee
 

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Sisters and brothers as many of you know, October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  I encourage all of you to take an active roll in supporting the fight against breast cancer.

 Local 260 is under taking a raffle with proceeds going to a union sister currently fighting breast cancer.  Some Local 260 members participated in a walk against breast cancer.

 Maybe some of you have undertaken a project to help in the fight against breast cancer.  I encourage all women to take a yearly mammogram and perform monthly self examinations.

TWU Women’s Meeting
There will be a meeting of the TWU Women’s Committee on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey.  The phone number to Caesars is (609) 348-4411.

A Cocktail Reception will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 from 6:00pm-9:00pm.

Any questions about the meeting may be addressed to Sandra Burleson, TWU Director of Civil/Human Rights/TWU Women’s Committee at 713 864-4346 or email sandra1@twulocal260.com

ATD, Transit Women’s Meetings

ATD Women’s Committee

The ATD Women’s Committee held a meeting in Hurst Texas, March 28-29, 2007.  A report on the meeting will be given at a later time.

Transit Women’s Committee

The Transit Women’s Committee is planning their first meeting in Houston Texas in June.  Transport Workers Local 260 will be the host union.  Further details will follow at a later date.

AFL-CIO Executive Council Women’s Meeting 
The AFL-CIO Executive Women’s meeting was held on March 7, 2007 in Las Vegas Nevada.  Because of traveling problems I missed the meeting, but it was attended by TWU Women’s Committee member Portia White. I was present when the report on the meeting was given to the full Executive Council.

In the meeting the AFL-CIO’s Diversity Resolution Policy was discussed.  The committee felt the resolution was long on words and short on action.

A representative from Union Plus explained a program her group was introducing.  Where they would provide grants to Union women that wish to educate themselves on becoming Union leaders.  Information on the program can be obtained from Union Plus.

Concern was held on women not being used more as organizers.  There are more women in the workplace.  They feel organizers by not using more women are losing out on ideas and talent.  The committee recommended how to have women more apart of an organizing agenda.  Those recommendations were:

1.     Endorse Diversity Resolution policy adopted by National AFL-CIO Committee

2.     Further training of women and people of color (Union Privilege Program)

3.     Propose Executive Committee of Council to focus on issues of diversity.  Committee composed of Working Women and Civil/Human Rights Committee.  Women’s committee feels progress being made but long way to go.

AFSCME Union is very diverse with 56% women.  High leadership of people of color, but a lack of diversity in Hispanic origin because not many jobs in government industry Hispanics apply for.

 Some Internationals change rules to get more diversity in their union leaderships. The consensus was better off to try to achieve diversity than not trying at all.

The committee recommended more women and people of color in International leadership positions.

The report was adopted by the Executive Council.

“You Go Sister”
Legislature Representative Portia White was named to the International Executive Board.  Congratulations Portia; all your sisters support you.

TWU Director of Civil/Human Rights, President Local 260 and TWU Women’s Committee Chair Sandra Burleson and Local 260 Secretary/Treasurer Eveline Rideaux were recognized by Metro Transit Authority, the employer of their Union members, as being women who made history at Metro.  Sister Burleson was the first women to be elected in its 60-year history as president of Local 260.  Sister Rideaux was the first woman elected secretary/treasurer of Local 260.  Both sisters’ portraits are on display in the entry level of the Metro building.  Congratulations Sandra and Eveline, your union sisters support you.

If you know of any achievements, recognitions or awards given or received by any TWU sisters, email me at sandra1@twulocal.com, so we can acknowledge them in the “You Go Sister” column.

Mission Statement:
Whereas, we are approaching the 21st century with women making up half the workforce of our country and an increasing part of the Transport Workers Union of America,

And whereas, the National and Local Officers of the Transport Workers Union of America must take the lead in organizing, recruitment, education and the development of women to be strong rank-and-file and strong leaders to serve the needs of our increasingly diverse membership,

Be it resolved, The Transport Workers Union of America has created a Women's Sub-Committee with the objective to promote concerns of women in our great Union and of working Union women everywhere.

In as much, we have begun the process to encourage our Locals to have educational programs that build self-esteem among our Sisters and encourage participation among women in all our Locals, to have on-going education programs in leadership, politics and political action, to assist and support women in the workplace on issues that confront them on a daily basis; such as, affordable child care and elder care, sexual harassment, workplace violence and discrimination, and to provide information and resource referrals on women's health issues such as, but not limited to, breast cancer and HIV. Because of these objectives our slogan will be "Each one...teach one for Union women everywhere."

Approved at the International Executive Council Meeting on June 9, 1998.