Strong union women from across the state gathered at NYSUT headquarters in July for the inaugural New York State AFL-CIO Women’s Committee Meeting. Inspired by NYSUT’s long-standing Women’s Committee, the event featured workshops on a range of topics including the impact of labor laws on women and maternal childbirth mortality rates in the African American community.
“After I looked around and saw there were only a handful of women in the room at the NYS AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting last June, I introduced and we moved a resolution to form a statewide women’s committee,” said Melinda Person, NYSUT president, noting that women comprise 49 percent of the NYS AFL-CIO membership. The lack of representation highlighted the need for a group committed to women’s issues and to nurturing and supporting the next generation of female union leaders. “The Women’s Committee of the NYS AFL-CIO envisions a future where the path to equality is built on equity … we believe that union membership plays a crucial role in empowering and educating women.”
In the workshop “Women in Labor and Politics,” a panel of union women political directors highlighted the challenges they face as female leaders and stressed the importance of authenticity. “Being your authentic self can be very important for someone coming up behind you,” said Michelle Crentsil, the statewide political director of the New York State Nurses Association. “It inspires the next generation and brings new leaders into the movement.”
Sasha Ahuja of New Yorkers for Equal Rights discussed Proposal 1, a New York state ballot amendment to protect reproductive freedom, terming it one of the most important campaigns this election cycle and a key mobilization point for voters. “Our message is clear: New Yorkers, not politicians, should be in charge of their fundamental rights and freedoms,” wrote Ahuja in a statement to NYS AFL-CIO leadership. “We need Prop 1 to keep politicians from turning our basic rights and freedoms into a political football.”
Participants also discussed, voted on and passed two resolutions, one calling on the NYS AFL-CIO to lobby in “full support for the state and national equal rights amendments” and another declaring that “representation matters.” It encourages the NYS AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions to adopt policies that safeguard the voice of underrepresented groups and to provide inclusive training.
“Heart Art” a self-expression project led by NYSUT designer Dana Fournier, was a creative highlight. During the exercise participants painted heart images on six-by-six mini canvases, debriefed about event highlights, listened to music and shared goals for future meetings.