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Women's History Month Profiles: Monika Warner
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Monika Warner.
Warner is a union leader to her core. At the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), she works closely with the Washington State Labor Council, the local Pride At Work chapter and other groups. She is a mentor and role model to young women at the Federal Aviation Administration who are starting careers as technicians in an industry that is heavily male-dominated, in order to have them reach their full career potential.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 03/25/2021 - 09:30
Tags:
Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: USW Members Proud to Produce Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 10-00086 in West Point, Pennsylvania, are ready to step up to their next fight in helping to defeat the coronavirus. On March 10, their employer, pharmaceutical giant Merck, announced it would be assisting in the production of rival Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. By late May, the workers at Merck’s West Point facility will be mixing the key drug component with other ingredients and filling vials with the vaccine. “Our membership is very proud to be a part of the fight to put an end to this pandemic and save the country, and the world,” said local President Mike Gauger. “We have a very experienced and devoted workforce, and I truly believe when Merck is challenged, they know they can come here to West Point and we can get it done.”...
Women's History Month Profiles: Heather Skopik
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Heather Skopik.
The backbone of her county’s health system, Skopik has been working in the building trades for more than 30 years. She is a proud member of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 501 and part of a great team serving the Department of Health Services in Los Angeles County. She has worked as both an engineer and a teacher throughout her career.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 03/24/2021 - 09:30
Tags:
Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Labor Movement Mourns Shooting Victims in Colorado
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The labor movement mourns the shocking mass shooting that took place yesterday in Boulder, Colorado. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 represents 32 members who work at the King Soopers grocery store where 10 people were killed. Kim Cordova, president of Local 7, issued this statement: “No one should have to fear for their lives while they grocery shop or go to work every day. Unfortunately, our grocery members, front-line essential workers, have lived in fear each and every day during the pandemic….For the last year our members and other associates have fought an invisible enemy, COVID-19, but today several innocent souls were killed by an evil human. We call on government officials and employers to do more to protect our members and communities from the constant threat of violence.”
...Women's History Month Profiles: Erica Stewart
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Erica Stewart.
In 1998, Stewart joined Boilermakers (IBB) Local 693 at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi after serving in the U.S. Army. Throughout her career as a union boilermaker, she has consistently stepped up to advocate for other tradeswomen in many official and unofficial capacities. As she has ascended into higher and higher leadership roles, she has made it a priority to offer her hand to lift up future tradeswomen leaders. Stewart leads the Boilermakers Women's Committee and is a member of the Tradeswomen's Committee of the North America’s Building Trades Unions, among other roles.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 03/23/2021 - 09:30
Tags:
Community Service, COVID-19
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Sacramento Central Labor Council Helps Vaccinate Union Members
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On Friday, the Sacramento Central Labor Council held a vaccination event where some 650 union members received the COVID-19 shot. Speaking at last week’s event, Fabrizio Sasso (SEIU), executive director of the labor council, said: “It’s important that every union member knows when they are eligible for their vaccine. Our role at the labor council is to insure that they have access to one.” Commenting on the importance of these clinics for the wider community, Sasso added, “It’s good for the community to see workers in their uniforms, their postal worker in uniform, their county or state worker in uniform, getting their vaccinations, because it makes it real, it makes it clear how many essential workers there are and how important it is to protect them.”
The labor council credited...
Unions Change Lives: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
Eight People Describe How Unions Changed Their Lives: "As companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google fight aggressively (and insidiously) against workers’ attempts to unionize, it’s a good time to get familiar with what unions can actually do for people. Because unions can help workers win more rights, companies sometimes take months before recognizing a union (like at BuzzFeed) or concluding negotiations—a process Gimlet leadership is accused of exploiting in the months before a Spotify acquisition. Even and especially when it’s met with resistance from companies, power of organized labor can and does better conditions and protect people against workplaces that would rather exploit them."
The Pandemic Accelerated Job Automation and Black and Latino Workers Are Most Likely to Be Replaced: "'When technology comes into a union worksite, we're able to negotiate to get a fair share of the increased...
Women's History Month Profiles: Lisa Gregory
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Lisa Gregory.
Gregory comes from a proud, multigenerational union family. She was a member of the UAW for 10 years prior to joining the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) in 2013. Gregory is a hardworking member of Local 58G at the JM Smucker Company in Toledo, Ohio. She won the respect of her peers and was elected to several positions within the local union, last serving as vice president. She was hired as an international representative and is known for her tireless efforts to help organize the unorganized, fight for equality in the workplace through good contracts and provide outstanding service to BCTGM members in union shops throughout the eastern United States.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 03/22/2021 - 09:33...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFGE Member Ceretta Smith Wins Grovetown City Council Election
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
AFGE member Ceretta Smith has won her City Council campaign in Grovetown, Georgia, a city in Columbia County.
In her work as a union activist for AFGE, Smith’s leadership has shone in several roles: women’s and fair practices coordinator, chief steward, legislative political coordinator, local president and Georgia state council president.
“My background drives my aspirations to make sure that everyone has a voice in shaping local government,” Smith says on her campaign website. “I believe we need more people in local government that will put people first: leaders that will listen and lead from a place of understanding and compassion and consider every voice in our community.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 03/22/2021 - 08:33
Women's History Month Profiles: Samantha Dulaney
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Samantha Dulaney.
In 2008, Dulaney was appointed IATSE in-house counsel, and in 2014, became general counsel. She is the first woman to hold this post.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 03/22/2021 - 07:30
Tags:
Women's History Month
