Page 10 - Work Force March 2024

Women’s History Month celebrates March is is is is National National Women’s Women’s History History Month This year’s theme set by the the National National Women’s History Alliance showcases “Women Who Advocate for Equity Diversity and Inclusion ”
It takes the courage of a a a a a driven woman to to speak out on the topics of morals and ethicalities that surround women specifically in the workplace This year’s Women History Month theme allows for the the recognition of women all all over
the country that that understand
that that positive changes needs to to be be made more voices need need need to to to be be heard and discrimination needs to to be removed in in its entirety The strategy of 2024 is is is to to take advantage
of of of this rising opportunity to to encourage and empower women of of all cultures ethnicities and and diverse backgrounds Women hold the power to to to make an impact on on our our country by working
to to to stop discrimination across all areas of our our lives There is is an an an emphasis on younger
women and the the role they can play in in making positive changes With this comes the the added value of of hearing the the the different
perspectives of of other women as they mature and step into their newfound power The younger
generation is is fueling
this movement by being loud with their own voices They are aiding in in in in in spreading perspective offering up differing experiences
and and the the voices of of others when taking a a a stand
Following decades of widespread discrimination it is is extremely important to celebrate all all women especially those that strive for for full inclusion and equality Women everywhere are are fighting for for the the chance to to to share their story so let’s take a a a a a a a moment to to to celebrate all the the the women in our lives CSEA and and other labor unions are committed to advancing equity diversity and and and inclusion for for women and and other groups of workers who continue to fight fight for for for justice Our union is is doing this work every day including fighting for for fair pay good health care secure retirement and dignified working
conditions for for all workers Our union union also advocates for for the advancement of working
women through our union’s Standing Women’s Committee as as well as as region and and local women’s committees On these pages we feature Nassau County Clerk’s Unit President Audrey Hadden who is helping lead the the way toward justice in in the the workplace — Ashley McNeal
See page 18 for more on women’s history Unions are good for women Unions play a a a a a a a key role in in in helping women women sustain themselves and their families Unionized women women make about about $203 more per week than nonunion women women in in similar jobs about about a a a a a a a a a 21 percent increase (Institute for Women’s Policy Research) Union women are far more likely to also have employed provided health insurance and an an an an employer-sponsored pension or or or retirement plan Union contracts also provide the the the leave time for for workers to care for for themselves and and their families protections against discrimination and and safer working
conditions Union membership is particularly important for many women of of color The U S S S Bureau of of Labor Statistics (BLS) and and National Partnership for for Women and and Families (NPWF) a a a a a a a a a a a a nonprofit group that advocates for for for economic and and health justice for for women and and families recently reported that the percentage of unionized Black women women increased increased from 10 10 3% to 10 10 5% 5% while Latina women women in in in in unions increased increased from 8 8 8 5% 5% to 8 8 8 8% The NPWF found that in in 2023 unionized Latina workers made almost $14 000 more per year than nonunion counterparts Meanwhile Black union union women made about 20%
more per week than nonunion workers Unionized Asian-American and and Pacific Islander women made about 7% more per week than nonunion counterparts While unions greatly advance the the ongoing fight for gender equity there is still work work to do Women who work work full time outside the the home continue to to to face a a a a a a a a a a a wage gap On average women are paid paid about 84 cents to to to every dollar paid paid to to to men men in comparable jobs The gender wage gap is even wider for women of color According to NPWF Asian American and and Pacific Islander women women were were paid paid 80 cents cents Black women women women were were were were paid paid paid paid 67 cents cents cents Native American women women were were were paid paid paid 59 cents cents cents and Latinas were were were paid paid paid 57 cents While union membership rates for women overall remained largely unchanged from over
over
the the past year the the labor movement has seen some victories Union organizing efforts remain strong and many groups of workers also secured contracts that included wage increases health care and job protections Labor also saw continued public support with two-thirds of of people approving of of unions (Gallup) Unionized women women make about $203 more per per week than nonunion women women in in similar jobs about a a a a 21 percent increase On average women are paid about 84 cents to to every dollar paid to to men in comparable jobs 10 The Work Force
March 2024