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Violence at Home and at Work, a Union Issue
Delegates to CWA’s 60th convention were shocked by statistics and graphic images demonstrating that violence against women in the home is a serious national and international problem. CWA Sec.-Treas. Barbara Easterling, for one, stressed that, "Domestic Violence is a Workplace Issue."
It is also a problem CWA, the Coalition for Labor Union Women and Communications International are working to address.
From the convention report of the CWA Women’s Committee: "Every year 3 to 4 million women are battered by their husbands and partners. Each year domestic violence often becomes workplace violence, when abusive partners commit about 13,000 acts of violence against their wives and girlfriends while they are at work."
Easterling, in her report to the convention, called attention to women in Eastern Europe, who are attempting to organize following the downfall of communism. In Lithuania some women have worked as long as two years without pay and others are paid very small amounts sporadically. "Poverty is very widespread, along with a host of related social ills, like alcoholism, spousal abuse and suicide," she said. The Lithuanian Workers Union is valiantly trying to make a difference there.
Audible groans rose from the convention floor as images of bruised and battered women and children flashed on its giant video screens. The images were replicated from billboards displayed as part of a campaign against domestic violence in Poland. Some of the captions: "Because the soup was too salty," "Because she looked too attractive," "Because he had to release his tensions."
Polish labor unions have taken the lead against this scourge by developing a "blue line," a telephone hotline for victims of domestic violence.
Easterling spoke of other examples of domestic violence she recently encountered in Argentina, when traveling there for a meeting of Communications International. "I resolved then and there that this would remain a personal priority for me and an institutional priority for CWA."
Fighting Back
In its report to the convention, the CWA Women’s Committee urged support for the Violence Against Women Act of 1998 (H.R. 3514) and that CWA develop materials and training programs for recognizing situations where domestic violence is a threat. Also, the delegates adopted Union-to-Union, a program of international solidarity growing out of the former Operation South America. CWA locals will take on projects to bolster unions in other parts of the world, including Eastern Europe, suggested by Communica-tions International or the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center. One of the criteria approved by the convention: "That special priority be given to assisting the living standards of working women by sponsoring Union-to-Union projects aimed at organizing and empowering women workers."
The Coalition of Labor Union Women has focused on October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" and Oct. 1 as "Work to End Domestic Violence Day." Education and organizing materials are available from the Family Violence Prevention Fund at (415) 252-8900.
Following the convention, CWA hosted a meeting of the Inter-American Women’s Committee of Communica-tions International. Union women from Mexico, Brazil, Paraquay, Chile, the Caribbean and the United States met Sept. 7 and 8 in New Orleans. Alicia Sepulveda Nunez, committee vice-chairwoman and secretary of the Telephone Workers of Mexico, spoke of the situation as a "hidden secret and a grave problem that is perpetuated generation-to-generation in a cycle which must be broken."
The CI committee adopted a resolution urging unions to:
Easterling, chair of the committee, said she will seek support for the resolution, "Violence at Home and at Work, a Union Issue," at regional meetings of Communications International in Asia, Africa and Europe.
It is also a problem CWA, the Coalition for Labor Union Women and Communications International are working to address.
From the convention report of the CWA Women’s Committee: "Every year 3 to 4 million women are battered by their husbands and partners. Each year domestic violence often becomes workplace violence, when abusive partners commit about 13,000 acts of violence against their wives and girlfriends while they are at work."
Easterling, in her report to the convention, called attention to women in Eastern Europe, who are attempting to organize following the downfall of communism. In Lithuania some women have worked as long as two years without pay and others are paid very small amounts sporadically. "Poverty is very widespread, along with a host of related social ills, like alcoholism, spousal abuse and suicide," she said. The Lithuanian Workers Union is valiantly trying to make a difference there.
Audible groans rose from the convention floor as images of bruised and battered women and children flashed on its giant video screens. The images were replicated from billboards displayed as part of a campaign against domestic violence in Poland. Some of the captions: "Because the soup was too salty," "Because she looked too attractive," "Because he had to release his tensions."
Polish labor unions have taken the lead against this scourge by developing a "blue line," a telephone hotline for victims of domestic violence.
Easterling spoke of other examples of domestic violence she recently encountered in Argentina, when traveling there for a meeting of Communications International. "I resolved then and there that this would remain a personal priority for me and an institutional priority for CWA."
Fighting Back
In its report to the convention, the CWA Women’s Committee urged support for the Violence Against Women Act of 1998 (H.R. 3514) and that CWA develop materials and training programs for recognizing situations where domestic violence is a threat. Also, the delegates adopted Union-to-Union, a program of international solidarity growing out of the former Operation South America. CWA locals will take on projects to bolster unions in other parts of the world, including Eastern Europe, suggested by Communica-tions International or the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center. One of the criteria approved by the convention: "That special priority be given to assisting the living standards of working women by sponsoring Union-to-Union projects aimed at organizing and empowering women workers."
The Coalition of Labor Union Women has focused on October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" and Oct. 1 as "Work to End Domestic Violence Day." Education and organizing materials are available from the Family Violence Prevention Fund at (415) 252-8900.
Following the convention, CWA hosted a meeting of the Inter-American Women’s Committee of Communica-tions International. Union women from Mexico, Brazil, Paraquay, Chile, the Caribbean and the United States met Sept. 7 and 8 in New Orleans. Alicia Sepulveda Nunez, committee vice-chairwoman and secretary of the Telephone Workers of Mexico, spoke of the situation as a "hidden secret and a grave problem that is perpetuated generation-to-generation in a cycle which must be broken."
The CI committee adopted a resolution urging unions to:
- Adopt their own resolutions condemning domestic and workplace violence against women.
- Develop and distribute educational materials.
- Implement programs for training union representatives.
- Build anti-violence coalitions with other unions and social organizations.
- Organize public awareness campaigns.
- Work for appropriate legislation and enforcement.
Easterling, chair of the committee, said she will seek support for the resolution, "Violence at Home and at Work, a Union Issue," at regional meetings of Communications International in Asia, Africa and Europe.