Update from the National NOW Conference

Minneapolis, June 2002

Jon Wegienek

“Linking Arms in Dangerous Times” was the theme for this year’s conference-an apt title considering George W. Bush is in the White House and women’s rights are in greater danger today than they have been in many years. Our key issues of reproductive freedom, civil rights for lesbians and gays, passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, elimination of racism, ending violence against women, and economic justice for all still require our commitment to action to prevent further erosion of our rights in this hostile climate.

Some of the highlights of the conference included:

• A picket of a local Wal-Mart store by hundreds of conference attendees, calling attention to the massive anti-worker tactics of the giant retailer, the nation’s largest employer of women. Recently the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Wal-Mart for more than 45 separate incidents of anti-worker, anti-union illegal conduct.   In addition, a group of current and former female Wal-Mart employees allege in a class action lawsuit that the company’s pay and promotion practices systematically discriminate against women.    (For more information, go to websites: aflcio.org/articles/walmart and walmartswaronworkers.com)

Issue hearings on Civil Rights/Racism and CEDAW, among others.   The sole purpose of issue hearings is to develop and produce resolutions which form the basis of our organizational policy. Sessions examined reparation efforts aimed at African-Americans for slavery and the work needed to persuade the US Senate to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. We will be hearing more about these important issues in the future.

• Workshops on welfare reform.  This fall Congress will be reauthorizing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant (TANF) programs. It has been estimated that 85% of welfare recipients face at least one barrier to employment:  physical impairment, mental-health problems, learning disabilities, limited English proficiency, substance abuse, or domestic or sexual violence. Since real reform would meet people’s needs, the TANF program should develop better strategies for identifying and addressing the problems of families with these barriers. Keeping track of this legislation – and voicing our support or opposition – will be a top priority for us in the fall.

Attendance at the national conference is always an invigorating experience since it reinforces our commitment and adds to our knowledge of the issues. We urge all Westchester NOW members to check our website frequently as we plan actions for the fall that deal with some of them. Join us!