
"And let’s just think about it,” she added. “In all likelihood, for the presidential election, we’ll endorse one woman or another. We need to catch up.” The leader among Democratic presidential hopefuls is former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
But Shuler also admitted the women’s movement has a blind spot: Women of color. The labor movement can fill that gap, she said. “We have a unique opportunity to be the place where all women – across class, race and immigration status – can come together and make the case for fair treatment and a fair economy” through collective action, organizing and winning union contracts, she said.
“So let’s use our Raising Wages campaign to do more than message issues. Let’s use it to connect with people and move them to action. Especially women. All women,” she urged.
Men now head both U.S. labor federations: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Teamsters President James Hoffa at Change To Win. Lilly Eskelsen-Garcia heads the independent 3.2-million-member National Education Association – the nation’s other teachers’ union – while Mary Kay Henry heads the 2.2-million member Service Employees, part of CTW. Colleen Kelley heads the independent Treasury Employees.
- Press Associates Union News Service, Mark Gruenberg, editor