In the years since its launch, the 82-member NYSUT Women’s Committee has sparked an inclusive women’s movement within our union.
Scores of women walked under its banner at women’s marches statewide. The committee has established a grant to support inclusive gender justice, and developed resources to support, educate and mentor women. Each time the women gather they try to raise awareness, build capacity and take action on the path toward women’s equality.
Co-chaired by NYSUT Executive Vice President Jolene DiBrango, and NYSUT members Aisha Cook and Leslie Rose, the NYSUT Women’s Committee has four main goals: encourage more locals to develop in-house women’s committee chapters; educate female members about the work of the union; highlight women-specific issues, including inequities in pay, health care and education; and involve more union women in leadership roles.
Delegates to the 2017 NYSUT Representative Assembly made the group a permanent, standing committee following the success of “Speak Up, Stand Up, Step Up,” the first NYSUT Women’s Conference in 2017. Since the creation of the standing committee, 30 NYSUT women’s committee chapters have been established across New York State.