IATSE_1stQrtr_2018_web

ily’s immigration history. The Mayor’s
grandfather was brought over the border
from Mexico when he was an infant. He
never finished high school, but earned his
citizenship after serving in the military
during WWII. After the war he learned
a trade and became a union barber,
opening a barber shop with the Mayor’s
grandmother, who also worked as a union
meat packer. The Mayor reflected on the
importance of union jobs. They provide
the means to raise a family and help pave
the way for the next generation to excel.
Mayor Garcetti next discussed the
film industry tax credits, noting that they
are there to protect rank-and-file union
member jobs in the industry. However, it
is important not to rest on the volume of
the work, but also to fight for better pay
and working conditions. That is what
being in a union is all about.
Wrapping up his remarks, Mayor
Garcetti thanked the IATSE for all they do
for the community, specifically mentioning
the Alliance’s strong support of the
#MeToo and Time’s Up movements.
President Loeb thanked the Mayor for
his remarks, noting that Mayor Garcetti
has proven by example what it means to
be a leader, and the IATSE is lucky to have
him as a friend.
CLUW 2017 CONVENTION
Representative Joanne Sanders reported
on the 19th Biennial Convention
of the Coalition of Labor Union Women
(CLUW) held at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance
September 6-9, 2017. The convention
theme was “Women: Taking It to
The Streets”.
Nearly five hundred delegates and
observers were registered for four days
of education and activism. The agenda
included a day of interactive workshops
covering a variety of topics specific to
women’s issues in the workplace as well
as those currently affecting communities
because of the hostile political environment.
Topics included Breaking Stereotypes,
Beyond Bias, Elections 2018, Power
and Inclusion, and Reviving the Labor
Movement to name a few.
Thursday, September 7, marked the
official Call to Order of the Biennial Convention.
The Opening Ceremony kicked
off at 8:00 a.m. with the parade of Chapters
and Unions. The Presentation of
Colors featured former Tuskegee Airmen
and newly enrolled cadets.
A special panel discussion on “Young
Women Leading the Way Into Our
Future” was included on the agenda. The
panel focused on how to better influence
young women as activists, engaged in
their community and in CLUW. Additional
speakers throughout the convention
included experts in workforce, legislative
and women’s issues.
Tefere Gebre, AFL-CIO Executive Vice
President, addressed the delegates and described
the restructuring at the AFL and
its commitment to empower rank-andfile
union members across the country
and to educate all working people on the
benefits of union membership. Other
speakers included: Cindy Estrada, UAW
International Vice President; Representative
Brenda Lawrence, (D-MI 14), President
Ron Bieber, Michigan AFL-CIO, and
International Presidents Mark Dimondstein
American Postal Workers Union
(APWU), and Gregory Junemann International
Federation of Professional and
Technical Engineers (IFPTE). Senator
Elizabeth Warren (D – MA), addressed
the delegates by video. The convention
was recessed briefly on Thursday afternoon
so that CLUW delegates could join
Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC)
and MI One Fair Wage at a rally at the
Coleman Young Municipal Center on
behalf of the more than 6 million tipped
workers across the country who are
women. It has been a practice of CLUW
to engage in some form of activism at
each of its conventions.
This year’s convention also included
the election of CLUW’s National Officers.
International Representative Joanne
M. Sanders was nominated to serve as
CLUW’s National Secretary. The unopposed
slate of officers included: Elise
Bryant (Communications Workers
of America), President; Carla Insinga
(American Federation of State and
County Municipal Employees), Executive
Vice President, Judy Beard (APWU),
Treasurer; and Bennie Bridges (American
Federation of Government Employees),
Corresponding Secretary. Sanders had
previously served two terms as a National
Vice President.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women
is a national membership organization
based in Washington, DC with chapters
throughout the country. Founded
in 1974, it is a constituency group of
the AFL-CIO which is leading the effort
to empower women in the workplace,
advance women in their unions, encourage
political and legislative involvement,
organize women workers into unions and
promote policies that support women
and working families.
President Loeb congratulated Representative
Sanders for her continued
representation on the CLUW National
20 OFFICIAL BULLETIN