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8:15 am
Pam Foxx, a regional coordinator for Women of Steel in District 9 was the special guest of today representing working women.
She told the women, "The historical mantle of activism depicted by our previous speakers has now been passed onto the Women of Steel." |
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8:25 AM
Leon Lynch, USW International Vice President of Human Affairs welcomed the delegates and pledged his support to reach better goals for working women. |
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Leon told the women that he learned his respect for women early in life. "My father brought home the bacon but my mother knew how to cook it," he stated, "And in those days, my father worked for his but my mother worked to pay the bills and make sure there was enough to give us the small pleasures." |
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8:50 am
The next guest speaker had the audience raise from their chairs a few times during her presentation. Donna Brazile, Chairperson for the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute, told the delegates, "We are going to show George W. Bush the door." She added, "You are the warriors of the battlefield, DO NOT give up." |
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Donna inspired the group as she related what women have done and what they had to do to get their issues addressed. Relating to a comment by Leon Lynch she stated, "Yes, we know how to make the bacon but in 2004, we are going to show that we know how to elect a new President." She added, "Then we will finally get what we require – respect." |
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9:20 am
Kimberlee Keller, the Director of Member Education and Mobilization with the AFL-CIO (Voice at Work) spoke to the members and told them of how Voices at Work addresses family and women’s issues. |
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9:40 am
Gloria Bingle, Women’s Coordinator for District 10, introduces the panel of delegates for "Women of Steel" stories of political activism. |
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9:50 am
Women of Steel delegates from left to right: Tina Maloy, Dist. 10; Holly Johnson, District 9; Liz Betinger, PACE; Vicky Bielawski, Dist. 8; Sylvia Ruiz, Dist. 1; Kelly Haas, Dist. 1; Linda Howard, Dist. 10. |
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10:15 am
Rachna Choudry, Coordinator, AFL-CIO Working Women’s Program the representation in the workplace and the difference of unemployment and pay scales between women and the average working. She reminded women that they already know the challenges and stated, "Women, more than men, vote on the issues." |
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10:50
Moderator Roxy Brown, USW D.C. Staff introduces panel of delegates that will tell their stories in their experiences in lobbying. |
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Panel from left to right: Maria Peyes, Shirley Pasholk, Barb Provenzano, Becky Sallie, Bonnie Buchanan, Korene Mansfield, Ana Sapp, Debi Link, Kathy Ober and Sharon Pritchard. |
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An emotional story from Sharon Pritchard, Dist. 8, Local 9477, telling members about her father and nephew that died because of the lack of sustainable healthcare. She stated, "We’re not here just because we are union people but we are here for everyone’s rights." |
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11:50 am
The next guest speaker was Page Gardner, Project Co-Director of Women’s Voices; Women Vote.
She spoke to delegates of talks about the Working Women Vote Campaign survey as a good tool for the upcoming election and getting people out to vote. |
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As the conference led to a close, the "Pie Pan Players" led the delegates in "Solidarity Forever", until the next meeting of
Women of Steel. |
WOMEN OF STEEL
