Wisconsin – AFSCME Women Get Organized

AFSCME Women’s Conference attendees rally in support of collective bargaining in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. (Photo by Luis Gomez)

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solís applauded female AFSCME members gathered in Milwaukee, Wis., in September for the union’s National Women’s Conference and she issued them a challenge: Get organized and get active for American workers.

“We know you have a track record of getting things done,” Solís said, urging members to send messages to their members of Congress via e-mail, Twitter and Facebook, calling for job-creating legislation.

It was that grassroots activism that was the focus of this year’s conference. Speakers energized AFSCME women for this year’s legislative battles in Congress and in states where right-wing, corporate-backed politicians are targeting collective bargaining and hard-earned public employee benefits. It’s a fight that AFSCME women take very personally, and they make up 55 percent of the union’s 1.6 million members.

“When AFSCME is attacked, working women are attacked,” Pres. Gerald W. McEntee said, calling out Republican governors in Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio and beyond. “We will not relent until the right of all public workers to collectively bargain is restored.”

Attendees also met their union sisters from across the country, sharing experiences and developing leadership skills. Panel discussions included “Women’s Voices from the Frontlines,” and “Courage, Cash & Coalitions: Three Keys to Political Power,” and regional roundtables and workshops included “Strategic Tools for Women Activists” and “The Attack on Retirement Security.”  

Check out inspiring videos and photos from the Women’s Conference at: AFSCME.org/women2011