State AFL-CIO launches its first women's committee

“The largest organization for women in the country is actually the labor movement.” 

So said Rebecca Damon, the executive director of SAG-AFTRA’s New York local and now also the co-chairperson of a new committee dedicated to women’s issues at the New York State AFL-CIO. 

“We’re really going to be led by women from the education, health care, entertainment and so many other industries across the state,” said in an interview late last month. 

The state AFL-CIO held its first-ever Women’s Committee meeting at the New York State United Teachers headquarters in Albany July 18. Damon’s fellow co-chairs are Melinda Person, the president of NYSUT, and Nancy Hagans, the president of the New York State Nurses Association.

The labor federation represents 2.5 million working New Yorkers, across more than 3,000 unions. Nearly half — 49 percent — of its members are women. Person said the idea to establish a women’s committee was formed after she attended her first state AFL-CIO executive council meeting last summer, where she noticed that there were few women. The union leaders were also inspired to create a women’s committee to expand on the work of existing women’s committees at several AFL-CIO affiliates, including District Council 37, SAG-AFTRA and NYSUT.

Damon said that she, Person and Hagans were particularly aware of the current climate in which women’s rights, particularly their reproductive rights, were being rolled back. “We felt like this was the right time to do it,” Damon said.

A resolution was passed last December by the federation establishing a committee dedicated to addressing issues that impact female workers.

“This group is a vital step toward amplifying women's voices in labor, advocating for equality, and ensuring that women’s issues are front and center,” Person said. “NYSUT’s longstanding Women’s Committee was made permanent in 2017, and each year we have expanded the education, mentorship and resources we offer to uplift women in our union. The NYS AFL-CIO Women’s Committee extends this empowerment throughout New York state labor.”

Damon added that the executive council and the state AFL-CIO’s president, Mario Cilento, immediately supported the idea of creating a women’s committee. “It's been really great to have the support from all of the men on the executive council. I think they know that one of our strengths is diversity,” Damon said.

Cilento said as the AFL-CIO builds on its commitment to workers, it’s critical for the federation to “consider the unique challenges women face in the workplace and use the power of our collective action to achieve gender equity.”

“As the father of three daughters, this committee is special to me,” he continued. “Its work will have a real impact and ultimately lead my daughters to bigger and better opportunities in their lives. As a parent, there is no greater gift than that. I am grateful to the chairwomen for stepping up to lead this historic committee, and to all of the union women from across New York State who serve on it.”

Mobilizing around ERA

Damon said that a major goal of the committee is to advocate for the passage of the New York State Equal Rights Amendment, which would uphold abortion rights by barring the state from enacting a ban. It would also prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, ethnicity and national origin. Members learned about the amendment during the committee’s inaugural meeting, at which Sasha Ahuja of New Yorkers for Equal Rights spoke.

“We’re really looking to get reproductive rights enshrined in our state’s constitution,” Damon said. “We’re looking to expand those protections against discrimination. People are really fired up about it.”

She added that the women’s committee is exploring how to create pathways to leadership for women in unions. During that inaugural meeting, committee members participated in a conversation with State Senators Jessica Ramos and Lea Webb, discussing other issues the committee will work to address, such as pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, access to child care and the gender pay gap.

“Many unions do a lot of work in the pay equity space. Among people that aren’t in a union, women suffer dramatically when it comes to not being paid equally,” Damon said. 

An analysis from the Institute for Women's Policy Research using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that women who belong to unions earned nearly 22 percent more than non-union female workers. It also found that the pay gap for unionized women is smaller than that of women working non-union jobs, with women in union jobs earning 89 cents for every $1 earned by men, while non-union women earn 82 cents.

Damon said she’s “proud” of the work the Women’s Committee has already started. “It is such a privilege to work with Melinda, Nancy and all of the other women in this committee,” she said.

clewis@thechiefleader.com

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