United States 1974

Synopsis

The founding convention of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) in Chicago in 1974 brought together activists in industrial, service, government, and skilled trade unions to advocate on behalf of gender equality. CLUW's origins lie in the campaign for the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the growing demands by rank-and-file women for equality with men in such matters as seniority and job assignments.

The Chicago delegates asserted their identity as feminists and unionists. They called on government, employers, and unions to fight sex discrimination in employment and develop effective comparable worth and pregnancy leave policies. Their alliance with feminists in such groups such as the National Organization for Women (NOW) was weak in the mid-1970s, although the disparate groups united to support the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). CLUW members defended union grievance and seniority systems in...