Building Women of Steel Committees on the Islands in District 9

Submitted by Sheila Harris, District 9 WOS Coordinator

In late January, thirty-four Steelworkers attended a regional Women of Steel (WOS) meeting in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. United Steelworkers District 9 Sub-Director Tommy Wright and Staff Representative Jerry Jackson opened the meeting and welcoming the members who represented five local unions from the Islands.

Participants engaged in a group activity centered on building Women’s Committees and encouraged WOS members to assist locals to educate, motivate and unify union members as well as address issues facing working women at the same time.  This prompted a healthy discussion and a brain storming session on what needed to be done to meet these goals.

Several male union members who attended the event were very supportive of the WOS program and helped by giving a man’s perspective of how men need to do a better job of supporting and being active with the Women of Steel programs in their locals.