Public Employee Press


Snapshots
Edited by Alfredo Alvarado

1549 member receives labor award

Local 1549 Officer-at-Large Natasha Isma was honored at the Coalition of Labor Union Women's 2016 conference in April.

Isma, who chairs the Local 1549 Next Wave Committee, received the group's "Rising Star" award.

Isma represents DC 37's national union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), on the executive board of CLUW, a constituent group of the AFL-CIO. Eight other women, including Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), were also "Working Women Award" winners.

At the conference, held in Silver Springs, Md., on April 7-8, CLUW also honored Lilly Ledbetter, who became a national figure when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against her unequal pay lawsuit.

Outrage over the ruling led the U.S. Congress to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act-the first legislation signed by President Barack Obama. The act makes it easier to file unfair pay complaints.

"I really enjoyed meeting Lilly Ledbetter," Isma said. The "Rising Star" award recognizes young women who are making an early and substantive mark in the labor community.