The Transit Division Women’s Committee held it’s second meeting this year, hosted by Local 234 on August 7-9 in Philadelphia. More than 50 women from locals across the country attended, some from as far away as Local 250-A in California. Several supportive brothers attended as well, including top officers from Locals 234 and 100 and International Chief of Staff Jeff Brooks.


“The goal is to encourage women to be leaders and to inspire them to be involved in the labor movement and with their locals in general,” said Transit Director Susan Resch who attended the three-day event.


At the meeting, the Committee approved its by-laws to be reviewed by the International Executive Council and heard from several speakers, as well as from Blue Cross Blue Shield about how to plan a health fair that caters to any local’s health needs. 


The presentation explained how health 
fairs benefit members by providing important information about a Local’s or community’s prevalent issues and promoting overall healthy living. Anita Clinton, Chair of Local 100’s Working Women’s Committee, gave a presentation in which she discussed her Local’s upcoming health fair. She also discussed the success of Local 100’s WWC, thanking Local 100 President Roger Toussaint for his support, and its fundraising efforts. 
Get a CLUW: Hundreds of TWU sisters (and some brothers) have been dedicated and active in their local or division’s Working Women’s Committees over the last few years, but there is even more that members can do to become further involved with the TWU, the labor movement and with addressing women’s issues – join CLUW (the Coalition of Labor Union Women). 


CLUW is the only national organization in America for union women and has thousands of members in more than 80 chapters and from more than 60 unions around the country. CLUW’s activists donate time and energy to help their unions and the nation’s political leaders understand the needs and concerns of America’s working families. 


“CLUW has focused on key concerns of working women since 1975 and being a part of CLUW helps women be a part of the decision making that affects their families lives as well as their own,” said Sandra Burleson, Chairperson of the TWU Women’s Committee. Issues that CLUW has focused on are: equal pay, child and elder care benefits, job security, safe workplaces, affordable health care, reproductive rights, protection from sexual harassment and violence at work. Burleson and Susan Resch, TWU Administrative Vice-President, encourage all TWU sisters and brothers to join CLUW. You can find more information at www.cluw.org, or by contacting Burleson at s-burleson@twu.org.