Women now make up nearly half of U.S. labor union membership, yet their presence in leadership roles has lagged, especially for women of color. Black and Latina women, however, are breaking new ground, taking top positions in some of the nation’s largest unions, and shifting the focus to include family-friendly benefits, health care coverage, and protections against sexual harassment.
"People think of a white guy in a hard hat when they think of unions,” said Georgetown University labor historian Lane Windham, but data shows that about two-thirds of union-covered workers are women or people of color.
For example, Gwen Mills recently became the first woman president of hospitality union UNITE HERE, leading 12,000 workers in a strike for better wages and health care. Black and Latina women, who face significant workplace inequities, are driving labor growth, with their union membership rates seeing slight increases in 2023.
Their rise in leadership has been building momentum over the past five years, a continuation of efforts by "our foremothers who laid this foundation," according to AFL-CIO leader Liz Shuler, the first woman to hold the position.
Black and Latina women have led some of the most impactful union initiatives. For instance, María Mata, a leader in UNITE HERE, helped secure panic buttons for hotel workers facing sexual harassment, noting, "We needed more protection."
Flight attendants, led by Keturah Johnson, the first queer woman of color to serve as international vice president of AFA-CWA, have also made strides. Johnson is pushing for gender-inclusive uniforms and natural hairstyle acceptance, ensuring that "flight attendants are represented and seen just as they are."
Despite these advancements, there’s still progress to be made in male-dominated industries like manufacturing and construction, where, as carpenter Lisa Lujano explains, leadership diversity could improve awareness of critical issues such as parental leave and properly fitting safety gear.
Link: NBC
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