Women’s Issues Committee
Quarterly Report to Statewide Executive Board December 10, 2005

This month of December marks the two year celebration of Local 52’s Women’s Issues Committee.

The WOMEN’S ISSUES COMMITTEE continues to conduct monthly to discuss what we have learned from concerned ASEA women around the state and other issues related to the well being of union women.

Our membership tells us that the most pressing issue in Juneau and Anchorage is safe, affordable child care near the state office buildings. Here in Juneau, there are not enough reliable affordable providers in the borough. DOLWD has a committee to address the issue, and Juneau Chapter President Wright and WOMEN’S ISSUE COMMITTEE Chair Nadine Lefebvre have contacted them and made ourselves available to work towards a solution. We are waiting for the call to their next meeting.

In Anchorage the problem exists, there is no known committee at this time.

The other critical issue brought to our attention is privacy for nursing mothers who need to breast pump at work. One woman has gone through several scenarios to try to solve this issue and came to us. In her final effort to correct the situation, she offered to buy a sliding privacy screen that would allow her to pump in her cubicle as needed without any disruptions. Her supervisor told her “no, it would ruin the lighting on this floor”. She was going to get that statement in writing. We are waiting to hear back from her.

The committee is working on merchandise to sell at the Biennial Convention to raise awareness and to raise money for training programs. We will have pins, bags, jewelry, and an assortment of items for sale. We continue to keep leadership training for all ASEA members in good standing a committee goal. AFSCME will provide the training, we need to set times and make certain that all members are aware of the opportunity.

Please note that the Alaska Supreme Court has decided that same sex couples can claim each other for health insurance and other types of coverage. We should have some dialogue regarding the impact on our union.

AFSCME’s Western Region Women’s Conference was a sensational success. Please read about it in the Solidarity Update. The participants came back with renewed vigor and better prepared to work for a stronger union. I am going to campaign each chapter to support women and men to attend the next Western Region Women’s Conference.

Because I attended the pre-conference institute, Strategic Campaign Planning for Building a Stronger Union, I am ready to share what I have learned and to put this valuable education to use before and during the next legislative session, and in preparation for our next bargaining session.

We will post our second membership survey on the PINK LINK in January 2006. We will have participant responses to share at the Biennial Convention.

There are three women who are interested in serving on the WOMEN’S ISSUE COMMITTEE; two of these women live in rural Alaska. Two of these women have participated in the recent teleconferences.

The WOMEN’S ISSUE COMMITTEE looks forward to greater participation in helping our membership find voice and support through ASEA.

Thank you for your time and support.
In solidarity,
Nadine Lefebvre, Chair for the Women’s Issue Committee