PEP, May 2007: Health, hope and new horizons

By JANE LaTOUR

Starting in the 1960s and ’70s, the modern women’s movement has won enormous changes — women’s right to stay on the job after they marry or get pregnant, the right to get credit in their own names, the legal right to equal pay for equal work in a workplace free from sexual harassment.

Women now work in every field—including medicine, law, science, engineering, aviation and construction. Women fight fires, pave roads and run courtrooms. But despite great gains, full parity is still a distant goal and gender imbalance is the standard in corporate boardrooms and on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Women’s History Month originated in 1978 with a week of observance among California educators and expanded in 1987 to include the entire month of March. At DC 37, the month provides opportunities to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of women and to probe the political realities they face.

As many women juggle jobs, family, school and union obligations, feeling run down and worn out is a constant, but Real Estate Employees Local 1219 gave the month a restorative start. Their all-day “Health Connection” program on Saturday, March 10, featured exhibits, speakers, and hands-on practitioners demonstrating methods to enhance energy and boost vitality. Participants browsed among displays of health products, had their blood pressure checked, or tried a massage, a back scrub or a lesson on “Qigong,” a type of Chinese movement to promote energy.

When Local 1219 President Shirley A. Williams noticed energy flagging among participants, she called for a delicious hot soup to be served as brunch. “Everyone looked in need of a little sustenance,” she said.

Sign-up sheets for the Local 1219 Women’s Committee were placed on every table. “I certainly did feel the energy,” said Paula Forbes, a chapter chair for Municipal Hospital Employees Union Local 420. “We’re always on the run and this event gave us time to take care of ourselves.”

New York women made labor history
Electronic Data Processing Personnel Local 2627 kicked off the first event sponsored by its newly formed Women’s Committee with a program that combined entertainment and special guest M. Patricia Smith, New York State’s new labor commissioner. Smith highlighted the contributions of New York women to labor history. “In the 1860s, if a woman was lucky enough to find work, she could labor 14 hours a day for a dollar,” she said. She described the pioneering work of Kate Mullany of Troy, N.Y., who organized the first women’s union in 1864 for laundry workers.

Smith spoke about two of her predecessors, Frances Perkins, who went on to serve in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s cabinet, and Lillian Roberts. “It breaks my heart to see what the Bush administration is doing,” said Smith, charging that Bush is trying to undo all that Perkins, Roberts and others fought for.

On March 28, Social Service Employees Union Local 371 sponsored a forum, “Can a woman be elected President?” Moderator Deidre McFadyen led off the discussion with some stimulating questions. Julienne Verdi contributed a spirited presentation, based on her experiences as a young feminist getting into party politics with Staten Island’s Democrats. Local 371’s Charlene Mitchell presented a factual overview of women in politics, including a handout with data on elected or appointed female heads of state. The list included Chile, Iceland, Guinea-Bissau, Switzerland, Nicaragua and Malta. Conspicuously absent was the United States of America.

Former New York State Assembly member Adele Cohen was the featured speaker at the Civil Service Technical Guild’s program. In her address to the delegates’ body of Local 375 on March 21, Cohen underscored the disparities that women encounter. “Until we reach that point where women have their rightful place at the table — and that means 51 percent — we will be having these programs for Women’s History Month,” said Cohen.

“Women in Film” was the topic for MTA Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1655’s program on March 14. Prior to showing “Dream Girls,” committee member Debbie Henry presented an overview. She described the path of women in film and the discrimination they have encountered. She pointed to the example of Jennifer Hudson, who overcame many obstacles to win the Oscar as Best Supporting Actress of 2006 for her performance in “Dream Girls.”

Finale celebrates First Ladies
On March 29, the DC 37 Women’s Committee concluded the month’s events with a celebration of the “First Ladies of DC 37” led by Local 957 President and Committee Chair Walthene Primus. “In this room, we have women who are mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts. We have strong women who will leave an imprint on this earth,” said DC 37 President and Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa.
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Local 420 President Carmen Charles spoke about her road to activism. “It began back in 1986 as a shop steward,” said Charles. “Another woman encouraged me to get active — Johnnie Locus. Back then I was a young wife and mother and I put it off. But under her leadership, I set out on this road.” “It's important for DC 37 to recognize that women are the backbone of this union and we’re coming on stronger,” said Anna Berry, chair of the Health Services Employees Local 768 Women’s Committee.