 “Women United for Action” was the theme of the twenty-sixth annual Summer Institute for Union Women (SIUW) hosted by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education and cosponsored by the United Association for Labor Education. The Institute drew more than 150 women from across the country to learn union organizing and negotiating skills, to strengthen coalitions between unions and community groups, and to sharpen skills for the creative use of multimedia.
The union women were inspired to participate in solidarity actions supporting the Hotel and Restaurant workers and the Teamsters Union in their struggles for recognition and better wages and benefits. Excitement was high as this was the first union action a most of the women had participated in.
The Arts and Movement Building workshop created songs and chants for these actions and the evening entertainment. The new Multimedia workshop provided background for using computer equipment and software to produce videos and flyers for local union organizing and education programs. The Herstory workshop visited a historical site dedicated to Rosie the Riveter.
June McMahon, Andrea Arias, Cristina Lopez, and Jessica Barcelona attended the Institute representing the UCLA Labor Center and LOSH. Next year’s Summer Institute will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, July 9–13, 2008. For more information, please visit www.bcfed.ca.
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