The AFSCME Western Region Women’s Conference and Pre Conference Institute were held in San Jose, California this November. Irasema Garza, Director of Women’s Rights Department, and her staff brought together powerful women and men in politics, journalism, and union activism to inspire us in our personal strengths and collective power.

The Pre-Conference Institute: Strategic Campaign Planning for Building a Stronger Union, a part of the Women’s Rights Department leadership series, was an intensive learning experience that provided us with the knowledge, skills and abilities to develop and manage campaigns for our locals/councils. The facilitators, women experienced in the political arena, gave instruction and depth to the process of a successful campaign.

Women comprise 57% of AFSCME, and over 60% of ASEA. When women fight for their rights, they are actually fighting for the well being of their families. Recent successful political attacks against American union labor and their families have cost us collective bargaining rights and pension plans and the fight is not over. AFSCME women have the power in their leadership skills, their drive for their rights and their voting numbers to win back what we have lost and to get what we deserve.

Seven hundred AFSCME members, almost all women, were in attendance Saturday when AFSCME President McEntee and Secretary/Treasurer William Lucy. The newly organized childcare providers of California were proudly represented. An AFSCME Hurricane Katrina victim said that her government did not come to the aid of her family; AFSCME members found them and provided emergency needs.

A panel of AFSCME Vice Presidents took the stage to discuss the current and future health, wealth and political strength of AFSCME. Congresswoman Hilda Solis and State Senator Gloria Romero spoke of their call to serve. Andrea Dew Steele, Founder of Emerge America, moderated a panel of union women who also hold elected public office. Ann Crittenden author of If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything quoted from her book.

ASEA members and their chapters must make a political difference. Every ASEA chapter needs to make the PEOPLE program a priority and vote in unison to the important issues looming before us. These are your issues and you have no time to waste.