Will focus on working women’s agenda
Milwaukee – AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler will visit Milwaukee Wednesday, May 4, and Thursday, May 5, to hold a series of roundtable meetings where she will discuss issues important to working women and younger workers and how organized labor will work to help them address the challenges of the changing workplace.
“Women are an increasing part of the workforce. Today there are 6.8 million women in the labor movement, and in the next 10 years, women will make up 50% of the labor movement,” said Shuler, who as Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO holds the second highest-ranking position in the labor movement and is the first woman elected to the position.
“I am excited to visit Milwaukee to talk with working women about the challenges we face and about how we can move on the power we’ll have standing together, creating and demanding solutions.”
In her roundtable discussions, Shuler is expected to share results of the National Survey of Working Women, launched last fall by the AFL-CIO in an effort to gain a multi-faceted picture of American women. (http://www.aflcio.org/Issues/Work-and-Family/Equal-Pay-Equal-Say)
One of the more striking findings of the survey is that more than half of working women spend fewer than four hours a week on themselves after fulfilling their work and care giving responsibilities. The report is based on the results of a survey on women that received nearly 25,000 responses from union and non-union women across the country.
“This survey offers a telling glimpse into the issues that matter most to America’s working women,” said Shuler. “As a woman and a union member myself, I understand the constant balancing act that many women are forced to play. I also know that union membership opens doors to leadership opportunities and economic power for women.”
Wednesday evening, Shuler will hold a roundtable discussion with working women at the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership training facility. This event is open to the press.
Thursday afternoon, Shuler will speak with the United Steelworkers’ Women of Steel and USW Next Generation, an organization of younger Steelworkers. While the roundtable discussions are closed to the media, Shuler and representatives from these meetings will hold a media availability at the conclusion of the meetings.
Details follow:
Wednesday, May 4 5:30-7:00 p.m. Working Women’s Roundtable Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership 3841 W Wisconsin Ave
Thursday, May 5 2:00-2:30 p.m. Media availability w/ Liz Shuler and United Steelworkers’ Women of Steel and Next Generation members Hyatt Regency Milwaukee 333 West Kilbourn Avenue
For more information about Liz Shuler, visit: http://www.aflcio.org/About/Leadership/AFL-CIO-Top-Officers/Elizabeth-Shuler and follow her on Twitter: @LizShuler.
#Media Contact: Tony Wyche, AFL-CIO Midwest Communications 314-716-3112 office | 314-398-9991 mobile tonywyche@soapbox-pr.com
