March is coming to a close, and with it, Women’s History Month – a month to reflect on the progress this country has made toward realizing the goal of full gender equality in American workplaces without losing sight of the work still needed to achieve that goal.

Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history, and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987.

“While Women’s History Month is coming to an end, the work of these women and so many others will continue to advance the lives of an increasing number of workers,” said IAM Women’s and Young Workers Department Director Julie Frietchen. 

Women’s history is also America’s labor history, too. Women workers have always been a crucial part of the fight for justice in the labor movement. Here is a roundup of women making a difference in the IAM and their communities.

Below is a roundup of stories we have covered but there are many other local women’s committees and IAM women that are doing great things for working people throughout our organization, this is our legacy and our living history. 

IAM Local 1487 Women’s Committee

IAM Local 1487
The Local 1487 Women’s Committee recently held its annual “Go Red” luncheon as part of a broader effort to raise awareness about heart disease by continuing to educate and advocate to ensure every woman knows the risks and takes steps to protect their heart. The luncheon informed attendees about the risks and warning signs of heart disease. Participants also participated in dance and exercise classes. Read more here.

IAM Local 1681
The IAM Local 1681 Women’s Committee in Alberta organized their annual holiday toy drive to collect toys for children in need during the holiday season. 

Thanks to the kind and generous contributions made by the membership, the committee successfully gathered and collected 150 high-quality toys. These toys were then thoughtfully donated to the Calgary Women’s Centre, where they will undoubtedly bring joy and happiness to countless people in need. Read more here.

IAM Local 1746 Women’s Committee

IAM Local 1746

IAM Local 1746 recently participated in the East Hartford (Conn.) Public School system’s Back-to-School Rally. IAM Local 1746 members have generously donated an assortment of essential school supplies bearing the IAM logo to aid students in their educational journey.

The Back-to-School Rally, organized by East Hartford Public Schools Office of Equity, Partnerships and Achievement, helped bring together students, families, educators, and community members to kick off the new school year with enthusiasm and determination. The event featured various engaging activities and resources to help students start the year on a positive note.

Recognizing the importance of equipping students with the tools they need to succeed, IAM Local 1746 donated school supplies to help ease the financial burden on families while creating a positive learning environment for students. Read more here.

TCU/IAM Local 2508
TCU/IAM Local 2508 member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Alexandra Villarreal founded a Women’s Committee specifically for On-Board Amtrak workers in the LA area as a safe place the women could come to for support, advice, positivity, and care. The Women’s Committee decided to show that their love expands past the service they provide on and off the train by donating games, coloring supplies, books, and more to a local senior community.

One of their first fundraisers was a school supply drive, where they collected and donated school supplies to the young women at Sacred Heart Girls School in Los Angeles, Calif. The Committee chose this all-girls school because they wanted to show solidarity with the young women of their community. The Local 2508 Women’s Committee also proudly raised $400 for Pacific Lifeline, a women’s and children’s shelter in Upland, Calif. Read more here.

IAM Leads Program

LEADS Program

The IAM created the Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters (LEADS) Program, an initiative to develop new pathways to leadership roles for IAM women. The IAM LEADS Program ensures that our organization is relevant now and into the future.

District 141
A few members from the first cohort of the LEADS program were given a unique opportunity to shadow IAM District 141 Assistant General Chair Tony Gibson during his daily operations. They also got to observe the airport environment with the ramp agents at a Spirit station located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The LEADS program graduates, who work as reservation agents, were thrilled to gain firsthand insight into the intricacies of airport station operations. The LEADS cohort included Stephanie Walker, Jill Hazamy, Wanda Santiago and Lakeisha Wilson. Read more here.

IAM Local 2799
IAM women in Kansas are going through the LEADS Program and are shadowing IAM officers and representatives. IAM Local 2799 member Tamica Johnson recently followed a group of IAM members as they went to the Kansas State House to lobby elected officials, and she gave her comments in this video report. Read more here.

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On Equal Pay Day 2024, let’s join forces to ensure that men and women are paid equally at work. It’s crucial to remember that women, especially women of color and those from marginalized groups, still earn less than men on average.

Closing the pay gap is vital for a fair society and a thriving economy. Fair pay for women not only helps families but also boosts businesses and benefits everyone. It’s time to value and pay women fairly for their important contributions.

This Equal Pay Day, let’s act by supporting fair pay practices, backing organizations that promote equality, and raising awareness about why closing the pay gap matters.

Together, we can build a fairer and more inclusive world where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive. 

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The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) has put out the call letter for their 50th Anniversary Gala May 8-11, 2024. 

CLUW is America’s only national organization for union women. Formed in 1974, CLUW is a nonpartisan organization within the union movement.

The primary purpose of CLUW is to unify all union women in a strong organization to seek remedies to problems and develop action programs within the framework of the labor and women’s movements.

Join CLUW for its 50th Anniversary Gala May 8-11, 2024 in Niagara Falls, NY. Registration for the Gala is $200, which includes a welcome reception, workshops and the gala event.

The women’s movement and the labor movement are crucial for advancing equality, justice and change in the world. Join CLUW for its 50th Anniversary celebration.

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WASHINGTON, March 1, 2024 — The IAM Executive Council released the following statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza:

“The IAM has a rich and respected history of promoting peace and fighting against the oppression of all people. We have helped lead civil rights movements, aided freedom fighters to defeat South African apartheid, and joined human rights efforts at home and across the globe. We call out injustice wherever and whenever we see it.

“Our union is as diverse as any organization in the world. While we come from an array of backgrounds and hold differing beliefs, we are united in our desire for all families and communities to live in dignity, freedom and safety. The killing of innocent civilians, and the explosion of antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism, goes against everything we stand for as a union and a labor movement.

“The people of Palestine and Israel need our solidarity and they deserve peace. Thousands of innocent civilians have been killed and injured, while millions are displaced and sheltering in the Gaza Strip. This senseless conflict, and the hateful rhetoric spawning from it, must end now.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries. 

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TCU/IAM Local Lodge 2508 member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Alexandra Villarreal, founded a Women’s Committee specifically for On-Board Amtrak workers in the LA area and is giving back to the community.

“I wanted to create a Women’s Committee because there’s never been anything like it [locally] in my 24 years of service. I thought it would be great to create something for the women, by the women at Amtrak. A safe place the women could come to for support, advice, positivity and care,” said Villarreal.

This February, the Women’s Committee decided to show that their love expands past the service they provide on and off the train by donating games, coloring supplies, books and more to a local senior community.

One of their first fundraisers was a school supply drive, where they collected and donated school supplies to the young women at Sacred Heart Girls School in Los Angeles, CA. The Committee chose this all-girls school because they wanted to show solidarity with the young women of their community.

The 2508 Women’s Committee also proudly raised $400 for Pacific Lifeline, a women’s and children’s shelter in Upland, CA.

“This is a great job by the officers of Lodge 2508. Their initiative to create a Women’s Committee and make an impact in their community is something their entire membership can be proud of. I appreciate their hard work on this special project and am proud to see they had such a great outcome,” said National President Maratea.

The Committee’s goal is to find creative ways to get the women of Local Lodge 2508 involved in the surrounding community while working together to make the world a better place.

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Back in September 2021, the IAM created the Leadership Excellence Assembly of Dedicated Sisters (LEADS) Program, an initiative to develop new pathways to leadership roles for IAM women. The IAM LEADS Program ensures that our organization is relevant now and into the future.

IAM women in Kansas are going through the LEADS Program and are shadowing IAM officers and representatives. IAM Local 2799 member Tamica Johnson recently followed a group of IAM members as they went to the Kansas State House to lobby elected officials, and she gave her comments in this week’s video report.

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IAM members, including IAM International President Brian Bryant, attended this year’s AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference held in Montgomery, Ala., the birthplace of the civil rights movement.

The post Empowering Our Future appeared first on IAMAW.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month – an important time to reflect on the resilience of trafficking survivors and recognize the efforts of those who work tirelessly to prevent and eliminate this inhumane and devastating form of abuse and exploitation.

Human trafficking involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or commercial sex. In a 2017 report, the International Labour Organization found that on any given day in 2016, an estimated 25 million people are subjected to human trafficking and forced labor. Considered one of the fastest growing illegal industries in the world, human trafficking generates an estimated $150 billion annually in illicit profits (DOI).

More than 20 years ago, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) put into law the United States’ commitment to combating human trafficking domestically and internationally. In 2010, President Obama declared January “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” to bring attention to the problem. Presidential proclamations not only raise the profile of the issue, but are also snapshots of global trends and challenges, and significant U.S. anti-trafficking policy achievements. Some highlights include (State.gov):

• In 2012, the issuance of the Executive Order ‘Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts ‘;
• In 2016, the first convening of the S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking;
• In 2017, the State Department’s launch of its largest anti-trafficking program, the Program to End Modern Slavery; and
• In 2021, the release of the updated National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

This year during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Department’s Office of Law Enforcement and Security’s Victim Assistance Program is bringing attention to the heightened vulnerability of persons with disabilities to trafficking victimization. These individuals are often overlooked as potential victims and may not know how to seek help.

According to the U.S. Department of Interior, in spite of the fact that statistics about human trafficking crimes against individuals with disabilities are limited, the National Human Trafficking Hotline was able to document 2,116 potential victims who had a pre-existing health concern or disability immediately prior to their trafficking situation (including a possible physical disability, mental health diagnosis, substance use concern, or intellectual/developmental disability) between January 2015 to December 2017. Also, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics emphasized the vulnerability of persons with disabilities in a report examining victimization in non-fatal crimes (including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault). Specifically, the report found that from 2017 to 2019, the rate of violent victimization in these crimes against persons with disabilities was more than 4 times the rate for persons without disabilities.”

According to DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center, several factors may contribute to an increased risk of being trafficked for persons with disabilities, including:

• Caregivers who take care of the basic needs of individuals with disabilities can take advantage of this dependency and force them into trafficking.
• Some individuals with disabilities may have difficulties with communication and/or speech, making it difficult for them to seek help.
• People with disabilities may be sheltered and isolated and therefore crave connections and relationships, resulting in their being persuaded to engage in commercial sex or forced labor in exchange for money or friendship.
• People with disabilities may be desensitized to physical touch due to isolation or an abundance of medical procedures related to their disability. They may be unaware of their right to object to unwanted touching and unaware of their rights as crime victims.

To report your concerns about a potential trafficking situation or get help for a person who may be a victim, contact the following helplines:

National Human Trafficking Hotline – this confidential hotline connects victims with support and services, provides information, and receives tips about potential trafficking situations.

1-888-373-7888

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Text: 233733

https://www.humantraffickinghotline.org

 StrongHearts Native Helpline – an anonymous and confidential domestic violence, dating violence and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives that is available 24/7, 365 days a year, offering culturally appropriate support and advocacy.

1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)

https://www.strongheartshelpline.org

References:

https://www.doi.gov/oles/national-human-trafficking-prevention-month#:~:text=January%20is%20National%20Human%20Trafficking,form%20of%20abuse%20and%20exploitation.

www.state.gov/national-human-trafficking-prevention month/

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The IAM Local 1681 Women’s Committee in Alberta organized their annual holiday toy drive to collect toys for children in need during the holiday season. 

Thanks to the kind and generous contributions made by the membership, the committee successfully gathered and collected 150 high-quality toys. These toys were then thoughtfully donated to the Calgary Women’s Centre, where they will undoubtedly bring joy and happiness to countless people in need.

The Calgary Women’s Centre is dedicated to empowering women by offering diverse programs and opportunities for support, connection, and community building. While the Women’s Centre is open to all women, 39% of the women who access their services and volunteer their time live in poverty.

“It’s heartening to know that our women’s committees across North America are making a positive impact in their communities and spreading happiness,” said IAM Canadian Territory General Vice President David Chartrand. “It’s truly inspiring to see how their dedication and hard work bring joy to people’s lives.”

As part of our core values, the IAM takes pride in providing ‘service to the community’ and we are equally proud of our committees throughout North America that make sure we fulfill our commitment to helping working families beyond their workplaces.

The toy drive was led by IAM Local 1681 Women’s Committee members Julia Cracknell and Fabiana Blanco.

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Today we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone celebration called Human Rights 75 (HR 75). Human Rights Day seeks to increase knowledge on the universality and indivisibility of human rights, especially among young people, and to inspire people to create a movement of shared humanity while empowering them to fight for their rights and take action.

Human rights are the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948 and sets out, for the first time, the fundamental human rights to be universally protected. 

In the decades since the adoption of the UDHR in 1948, human rights have become more recognized and more guaranteed across the globe. The UDHR has since served as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection that today focuses also on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and migrants.

This year’s Human Rights 75 initiative seeks to shift the needle of understanding and action towards greater knowledge of the universality of the UDHR and the activism associated with it. Given that young people face particular challenges in exercising their rights, while often being at the forefront of human rights activism, youth engagement is a key component of the initiative.

It is imperative that we work together with constituency groups like  LCLAA, APALA, CBTU, CLUW, APRI and P@W who lobbying for human rights protections for all. Also it is important to exercise our right to vote the people into office that are going to make positive changes for the rights of families and workers.

https://www.ohchr.org/en/get-involved/campaign/udhr-75

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