Carrying Her CLUW Wherever She Goes

PHILADELPHIA

DC 47 Health and Safety Dir. Kathy Black joined the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) 20 years ago. Then she was a student in Oregon. Today she is president of the Philadelphia CLUW Chapter. Black's union career has led her across the country, and she has taken her CLUW membership with her.

In San Francisco, Black discovered CLUW's East Bay Chapter — a hive of activity. She particularly recalls the chapter's work to end South Africa's apartheid system: "We picketed South African ships when they came into port."

When she moved back east, she joined Philadelphia CLUW and was elected president in 1993. "The thing I'm proudest of is we've built the chapter into a visible, respected part of labor locally," says Black. "We're seen as the women's movement of the labor movement."

The chapter is leading the fight for contraceptive equity (treating prescription birth control the same as other prescription drugs). "We have gotten many unions and large employers to extend that coverage," she says, including Temple University, where 4,000 workers and their dependents now have the contraceptive benefit.

"Through that work, we built very strong ties with the women's movement in the state," Black says. "We gave them a different view of labor and got them to hold events at union hotels and use union print shops. We're building two-way support."

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AFSCME has always been one of CLUW's most active unions. At present, we have its second-largest number of members. Please help us reach the top by joining or renewing your membership. Send your $30 membership fee to: CLUW, 1925 K St., N.W., Suite 402, Washington, D.C. 20006. Or visit CLUW, and click on "Membership" to get an application form.