AFL-CIO convention report: Union women speak out

Sexual assault at work was one of the main topics at the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) caucus meeting at the AFL-CIO convention last weekend, reports Carol Rosenblatt, executive director of CLUW. The Trump administration’s dismantling of birth control insurance coverage was another major issue. “The same religious organizations and corporations that deny a woman's right to contraception are the same groups, like Hobby Lobby, who have no objection to covering the cost of its male employees’ vasectomies,” said CLUW president Elise Bryant. “It's hypocrisy at its worst!” At CLUW’s convention booth, convention attendees – including Alvina Yeh, ED of APALA, George Neff, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, Carla Insinga, AFSCME (and CLUW Executive VP) and William Conklin, Solidarity Center.-- posed with an issue of concern preparing for the 2018 elections. 
PLUS: Supporting a Medicare for All resolution at the AFL-CIO convention, RN Sandra Falwell (NNU Vice President and MWC Executive Board member) (photo below) recalled a tragic story of a premature child born in her hospital (Childrens Hospital), whose parents had to take out a second mortgage yet still couldn't pay for needed aftercare. Other adopted resolutions include: Independent Political Voice and New Direction, Taking on Wall Street, Commitment to fighting for policies that give workers freedom to spend time with family, Prioritizing organizing and growth of affiliates, and Rejecting the privatization of veterans' health care.