Issues

March 2006

Women's history month — a celebration of change

Women's History Month is a time to reflect on the extraordinary accomplishments and progress that women have made throughout history. These changes have had great impact and benefit on the lives of women today. As we look at the current state of women's lives, it is critical to consider how the actions women take in this decade can positively impact the future of women everywhere.

In the past century, women have come a long way. Women have won the right to vote, joined the labor force in record numbers, and fought to bring greater attention to gender discrimination in every sector of public and private life. Women have improved their economic security and rights in the workplace by joining labor unions in record numbers. In the past 20 years the number of women in unions has increased by more than 20 percent! Women serve in elected offices at every level of government, and thousands more are leading community and national efforts to improve the state of our nation and create opportunities for the next generation of women leaders.

However, these are only the first steps. Women comprise less than 25 percent of all state legislators, and hold less than 15 percent of the seats in both the US House and Senate. This means that when decisions are made about women's rights and economic security, women's voices are not always heard. A recent study found that women in elected office are more likely to adopt policies that increase women's economic security, promote gender equality, and support women's reproductive health. In order to improve the status of women's lives in the next few decades, it is critical to encourage women to take on leadership positions and run for elected office at the local, state, and national levels.

A great way to start taking action is to get registered to vote! Not only is it easy to do, but this small step ensures that women have a strong voice and active role in setting the agenda of our cities, states, and country. By voting and taking actions at the local level, women increase their capacity for leadership and can have a lasting impact for working women and families in their communities. We urge you to register to vote today and send this link to at least one other person who has yet to register!

To get registered to vote visit, www.afscme.org/politics/votereg.htm

Unions protect women nearing retirement

A new report from the Urban Institute explains how changes in work, health, and personal relationships can threaten the economic security of individuals nearing retirement. The study finds that three out of four adults between 51 to 61 years old experience "negative shocks", such as getting laid off from a job, health problems, declining health of parents or in-laws, divorce or widowhood. Women experience these shocks more often than men because women have a longer lifespan. Women are also more likely to experience gender discrimination in the workplace, which often causes them to leave a job prematurely. Because, women, on average, earn less then men and are less likely to have pensions or other economic resources, it is more difficult for women to shoulder the economic burdens of these shocks. When women nearing retirement have to spend their savings on medical bills, long-term care for parents or even day-to-day expenses after losing a job, they are jeopardizing their economic security for years to come.

When women join unions, they add an extra layer of security to their retirement finances. Union women earn about 34 percent more than non-union women and are also 22 percent more likely to receive health benefits from their employer. Union women are also more likely to receive pensions. This means that while many women continue to struggle while dealing with health problems or divorce, union women are better positioned to absorb the impact of these shocks due to their greater economic security.

Get a full copy of the report.

Get ready for equal pay day — April 25th!

On Tuesday, April 25th, men and women around the country will rally together to bring attention to the pay gap and bolster support for policies that strengthen pay equity standards. Did you know that women, on average, earn almost a quarter less on every dollar men earn? In 2004, women earned 76 percent of men's earnings. Over a working lifetime, this gap costs the average American woman and her family over $700,000 in lost wages! Put another way, that's $24 less to spend on groceries, housing, child care and other expenses for every $100 worth of work. These lost wages are especially needed today as the cost of home heating and gasoline continues to increase.

Get Involved! The NCPE is working in conjunction with the Wage Project and other national advocacy organizations to fight for equal pay in their own lives. Together, these groups want to create 100 Wage Clubs around the country. Wage Clubs help women obtain the tools, support and momentum they need to make changes in their workplaces and get the pay they deserve. Starting a Wage Club is easy: simply set a date, invite 5 to 10 interested women, and your Wage Club is off and running! The Club meeting is a time to share frustrations and experiences at work, but more importantly to support each other in taking steps to improve work situations and end workplace discrimination against women. The Wage Project website provides free discussion guides and other resources for making your first meeting a success.

Make it work better: A work/family educational program

Balancing work and family responsibilities has become increasingly difficult for the majority of working families today. More than ever, union leaders must help their members balance their work and family responsibilities. To help, AFSCME's Women's Rights Department, along with the Labor Project for Working Families, the AFL-CIO and several other unions, have produced a step-by-step teaching guide to educate and mobilize union members and leaders on using work/family issues in organizing, bargaining and advocating public policy. It contains workshop curriculum, background material and handouts that can be used in existing union trainings. It also has group exercises on organizing, bargaining and advocacy. The curriculum can be customized by industry, size of the group and/or leadership level of the participants. You may use this training program along with our AFSCME Guide to Winning Work/Family Programs, also available free on our website.

Download your copy of Making It Work Better: A Work Family Educational Program.

Download the AFSCME Guide to Winning Work/Family Programs.

Amazing AFSCME woman

AFSCME sister Sheri Van Horsen is running for House District 9 in the Arizona State Legislature. A member of AFSCME Council 97, Sheri is currently taking a leave of absence from her position at the Governor's Office to run her campaign and work as the statewide organizing director for AFSCME. You may remember Sheri from AFSCME's Western Regional Women's Conference, where she joined other women candidates in a panel discussion on women's leadership and running for office. When asked how the union contributed to her decision to run, Sheri said, "Almost 100 percent. We need legislators who will protect the rights of working families and respect the right to organize. Through participation in the union and involvement in the union's political activities, I have developed the skills and motivation to become a leader in the legislature."

Realizing her dream to run for office, Sheri sought out some extra help and enrolled in a campaign training program through Emerge Arizona, an affiliate of Emerge America. Emerge America is a network of state-based programs designed recruit, educate and inspire talented and diverse Democratic women who want to pursue elective office at the local, state and national levels. The network has a proven track record; currently 61 percent of program graduates hold elected office. Emerge America has three affiliates nationwide, including Emerge Arizona, Emerge California and Emerge New Mexico.

Sheri is one example of the many AFSCME women around the country who are taking on leadership roles. "Think of the difference you can make," says Sheri to other AFSCME women considering running for office. "As union members, we are leaders in our workplaces. We are already involved in politics and know how to organize; there is no reason why we can't be leaders in our communities and legislators. 2006 will be the year of the woman!"

We need more women in public office! If you are interested in running, but want that extra edge, check out Emerge America. Stay tuned to next month's issue of the AFSCME WomENews for more information on other training opportunities.

Are you a member of a local AFSCME women's committee?

If yes, we need your help! The AFSCME Women's Rights Department is conducting a survey of local AFSCME women's committees to find out more about our amazing cadre of women leaders. Please email or call the Department with the name, email and phone number of the contact person for your local women's committee. We ask that your direct all correspondence to Joyce Long at JLong@afscme.org. You can also call Joyce in our office at (202) 429-5089. Thanks for your help!

WomENews is produced by the Women's Rights Department and written by Amy Vance.

 

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