Join with CWA Women in celebrating International Women's Day

In the 1970s, CWA began raising our collective consciousness about women's issues with a hard look at women both in the workforce and in leadership roles.  These efforts resulted in the 1973 formation of The Female Structure & Review Committee with Staff and District representatives to review the structure of CWA as it relates to female representation and participation.  The FSRC recommended female appointments to Staff be made until equity was achieved and reflected the percentage of female CWA members.  Out of the FSRC, the Concerned Women's Advancement Committee was formed to advance women to higher levels within CWA.  By 1978, the first CWA Women's Conference was held to overflowing capacity, and proclaimed "the need for awakening of women within our Union."
 
Since those years, CWA Locals and Districts have stepped up to the plate, forming Women's Committtees at every level in order to fulfill the intent of the original Conference.  Women's Committee reports became standard practice at District meetings.  The energy and activism  resulted in family issues being added as a priority bargaining item.  By 1991,  the CWA Convention adopted a constitutional amendment that the Women's Committee report to every Convention on activities and recommendations beginning.  Our international Secretary-Treasurer is the much beloved and admired Annie Hill.
 
We've never stopped since then.  Nor can we.  Women's issues in 2012 are once again dominating the headlines and political discourse in the U.S.  We must never rest on our laurels or achievements - for if we do, surely there will be efforts to destroy all that we have accomplished.
 
Celebrate the women activists in your Local, your communities and your life.  Without them, our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters would still be second class citizens. And never, ever underestimate to power of a woman.