The ASEA statewide Women’s Issues Committee has reviewed the results of its first on-line survey and has begun to take actions on your behalf.

The first survey question provided a broad list of topics for the participant to choose from. Nearly 70% of the respondents indicated that women’s health care issues are among their greatest concerns. Almost 60% indicated pay discrimination and pay equity were among their priority concerns.

The second survey question asked about career building programs. 61% of the respondents indicated they want leadership skills training. These first two questions have provided the committee with a course of action.

For those of you who have expressed interest in having information e-mailed directly to you, we are preparing that e-mail list. For those who want to participate without becoming a committee member, we welcome your volunteer support.

The results of the survey will be available for review on the union website www.afscmelocal52.org in the near future.

The Women’s Issues Committee has prepared a second online survey to gather your most pressing concern of health care issues. This is not a gender specific survey—we do hope that all union members will choose to participate.

With regard to the desire for career building and leadership training, we have taken multiple approaches to your needs. We will begin with online career building training to be posted at the Pink Link in January 2005.

The Women’s Issues Committee members are creating three Power Point Presentations to help the membership with their career needs. The first three topics will be Resume Writing and Interviewing Skills, Workplace Etiquette and Mentoring, and Workplace Communications and Listening Skills. These Power Point presentations will remain posted so that interested persons can access them whenever they might need the information.

We are also planning to bring another union supported member training session to you in the spring of 2005.

The Women’s Issues Committee wrote and presented seven resolutions to the convention delegates in February 2004. We have asked the Executive Board about the status of these resolutions.

The convention resolutions will be available on the Pink Link page of union website in the near future.

A list of the Women’s Issues Committee members with all of their contact information is published on the web site. Please contact any or all of us with your concerns, ideas, and input.

In solidarity,
Women’s Issues Committee