ASEA/AFSCME LOCAL 52 Women's Issues Committee
Quarterly Report to the Statewide Executive Board DECEMBER 2010

Madame President, members of the ASEA Executive Board, ASEA staff, members and guests;

I would like to say thank you to the Statewide Executive board for appointing me as the New WIC Chair. Upon the appointment and notification on September 28, 2010 our first meeting commenced on September 29, 2010. The committee continues to discuss AFSCME and ASEA News, political issues and the direction of the WIC for future growth and how to involve more members in our committee and informing members about the WIC.

The Women's Issues Committee has continued to work toward issues concerning our members and their families that effect their ability to be productive in the workforce. We continue to discuss matters relevant to our mission statement. Since the last SEE report our committee has had a few changes with the term expiration of Nadine Lefebvre as Acting Chair, the resignation of Francis Compton and the appointment of returning member Millie Twitchell. ASEA headquarters sent out email solicitations to members for interest in our committee to the following areas with vacancies: 2-Southeast, 2-Rural and 1-Bush seat and we are hoping to have new and/or returning appointments at the commencement of this Execution Board meeting.

This year was an election year and many of our members assisted on various political campaigns throughout the State. During our October meeting we had quite a few guest members and Alice Germond, the Secretary of the Democratic National Convention discuss the political climate here in Alaska. Also some of our committee members participated in the Health Fairs around the State and solicited our WIC pins. We will be establishing a dialogue with the Next Wave committee to share information obtained from the AFSCME Biennial Convention and other organizations.

During our November meeting the Chair discussed her trip to the Coalition of Labor Union Women's National Executive Board and Leadership Academy as a member which took place in Reno, Nevada. Our first day commenced with meeting and greeting first timers and being appointed to various committees to help shape the conference and workshops for the 2011 CLUW National Convention. Our final day was another opportunity to network with other union Sisters from across the country. Alaska does not have a CLUW Chapter and we had many Sisters willing to help establish a CLUW Chapter here in Alaska. A few of the National Executive Board members have an interest in coming to Alaska to discuss CLUW with other Unions. Also we had two powerful political Sisters, Senator Nina Turner of Ohio State and Assemblywoman Debbie Smith of Washoe County, who are also CLUW members enlighten us on how to prepare ourselves for political careers in the union and in our communities.

Our discussions continued with the post election analysis: the next steps for working women and jobs and the economy. The role CLUW has in the global community in supporting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the women and workforce investment for non-traditional jobs act, how to urge other members in our unions to tell congress no cuts in social security. Then finally our day ended with leadership development workshops entitled Step Up, Step Back: What Unions Can Do So the Next Generation of Union Activists Become Leaders and The Family Friendly Workplace: How Unions Win it. It was amazing to see the caliber of women; young and seasoned working toward the goals set forth to get our members involved and keeping them involved. We were approved to have the CLUW weblink on our Pink Link site for members to visit at their leisure and I encourage members of the Statewide E-board to browse that link and become members as well.

Our committee is looking forward to our upcoming face-to-face meeting next year. We continue to network with other Women's Committees in the lower 48 to foster and share new ideas.

Thank you for your time and support of our efforts on behalf of the women, families, and all ASEA/AFSCME members in Alaska.

Respectfully, In solidarity
Dawn Bundick, Chair
Women's Issues Committee