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Rocking the Boat: Union Women's Voices, 1915-1975

Dominic Simmons

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Published in Rocking The Boat: Union Women S Voices 1915 1975

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The history of the labor movement in the United States is often told through the lens of men. However, women have played a vital role in the labor movement since its inception. In the early 20th century, women workers began to organize unions to fight for better wages, hours, and working conditions. These women faced many challenges, including discrimination, harassment, and violence. But they persevered, and their efforts helped to improve the lives of working women across the country.

Rocking the Boat: Union Women's Voices, 1915-1975

by Eduardo Galeano

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7370 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	336 pages

One of the most important milestones in the history of union women's voices was the formation of the National Women's Trade Union League (NWTUL) in 1903. The NWTUL was a coalition of women's labor organizations and individual activists who worked to promote the interests of working women. The NWTUL lobbied for legislation to improve working conditions for women, provided education and training for women workers, and organized strikes and protests.

During World War II, women entered the workforce in record numbers. This led to a surge in union organizing among women. In 1943, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) chartered the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). The UE was the first major industrial union to organize women workers on a large scale. The UE's organizing efforts helped to improve wages and working conditions for women workers in the electrical and manufacturing industries.

After World War II, the labor movement faced a number of challenges. The Cold War led to a crackdown on unions, and many women workers were forced out of the workforce. However, women continued to organize unions and fight for their rights. In 1955, the AFL-CIO merged with the CIO, and the new organization became the AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO continued to support women's rights, and in 1963, it established the Committee on the Status of Women.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a resurgence of the labor movement. Women workers played a leading role in this resurgence. In 1969, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded. NOW was a feminist organization that fought for the rights of women in all areas of life, including the workplace. NOW supported union women's efforts, and it helped to raise awareness of the issues facing working women.

In 1972, Congress passed the Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEOA). The EEOA prohibited discrimination in employment on the basis of sex. This law was a major victory for women workers, and it helped to open up new opportunities for women in the workforce. In 1975, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that unions could not discriminate against women in their membership or representation. This ruling was another major victory for women workers, and it helped to ensure that women had a voice in the labor movement.

The history of union women's voices in the United States is a story of struggle and triumph. Women workers have faced many challenges, but they have persevered. Their efforts have helped to improve the lives of working women across the country. Union women's voices are an important part of the history of the labor movement, and they continue to play a vital role in the fight for workers' rights.