See it! Believe it! Be it!: Second Annual ILWU Women’s Conference builds camaraderie and power
More than 100 delegates and guests attended the Second Annual ILWU Women’s Conference in San Francisco on October 20-22. The conference brought together women from across the ILWU’s divisions to learn, build leadership skills, promote camaraderie, and discuss ways in which more pathways for women in leadership can be created in the union. This was the first in-person Women’s Conference. Last year’s inaugural conference was conducted online. In addition to delegates from the ILWU, there were women from the International Longshoremen’s Association, and Masters, Mates, & Pilots.
The conference is the result of a resolution passed unanimously at the 2021 ILWU International Convention. A committee of members from across the union have been working with ILWU Education Director Robin Walker to plan the event for the past year.
Welcome by the Titled Officers
Delegates were welcomed by the Titled Officers starting with ILWU International Vice President (Hawaii) Sam Kreutz. Vice President Kreutz began by thanking everyone for their support to those affected by the fires in Maui.
“The help that came across the ILWU from the hands of our members was tremendous. I was blown away by how fast and how much support was given to the people of Maui,” he said.
He thanked delegates at the conference for their leadership and sacrifice and encouraged everyone to take advantage of the camaraderie and opportunities to learn, grow, and strengthen one another during the three-day event.
“Embrace this moment. You all have an opportunity with the platform of the mighty ILWU to let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and to let your ‘No’ be ‘No’ and to stand firm in what you believe,” Kreutz said.
ILWU International Vice President (Mainland) Bobby Olvera, Jr. followed the opening remarks by Vice President Kreutz.
“We’re here to grow the next generation and to grow this tent to ensure everybody has a voice,” Olvera said saying the strength of the ILWU is measured by the union’s democratic values and commitment to uplifting workers.
Vice President Olvera closed by stating that, in addition to several women who were already local officers and executive board members attending the conference, he believed there were other future ILWU leaders among the delegates.
“The thing that inspires me to get back to all of the work sitting on my desk is what I see in here of what is to come. In this room, there are future local officers, business agents, vice presidents, presidents, and secretary-treasurers. In this room, I believe there lies a future International Officer,” Olvera said.
ILWU International President Willie Adams was unable to attend the event but he recorded a solidarity video. He said that as the first Black International President of the ILWU, he understands what it means to have to overcome obstacles and the ups and downs of leadership. He encouraged delegates to run for union office.
“We need strong women in the labor movement and the house of the ILWU,” he said. “ We need you to run for any office that you feel you are qualified for. Run with passion, run with determination, and run without apology.”
Evening keynote
The keynote address for the evening was delivered by Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, former member of the California State Assembly and current Executive Secretary-Treasuer of the California Labor Federation.
She spoke about her own experiences and how she managed the expectations and multiple responsibilities of being a labor leader and a mother.
“My mom was a single mother and taught me everything I know about the labor movement and working,” Gonzalez Fletcher said. “My mom taught me the most important thing: You’re going to fall down; you measure yourself by how many times you’re willing to stand up and keep going.”
She dispelled the idea that women must “do it all.”
“I was a single mom in organized labor and leading a Central Labor Council. One of the things I learned is that I am never going to do it all.” Noting that the leadership role the delegates play is crucial to improving the economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
“By taking leadership in your union, you are doing something important,” adding that “this economy can only be fixed by unions with good contracts and strong collective bargaining.”
Gonzalez Fletcher closed by emphasizing the importance of sisterhood and the need for women to make room for more women in positions of leadership and power. “Sisterhood is real,” she said, “and we don’t talk about it enough. We don’t talk about lifting every single woman. We know in organized labor, that we are stronger together. Let’s have some sister solidarity and ensure that as we rise, we are making room for the next generation, our generation, our mother’s generation, and our grandmother’s generation.”
The evening ended with an introductory group exercise that enabled the conference delegates to get to know one another and learn about each other’s experiences on the job and in the union.
Morning keynote
On the second day of the conference, the day’s keynote speaker, Yvonne Wheeler, President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, was introduced by Local 13’s Vivian Malauulu.
Wheeler spoke about her experience combating racism in Louisana where she was born and raised and also in Los Angeles where she eventually relocated.
“I thought Los Angeles was going to be the land of opportunity, and that racism was going to be a thing of the past,” Wheeler said, “but after a few weeks on my job, I learned that racism knew no boundaries. Racism and gender inequity are not just confined to the South. There were no signs when I left Louisiana that said, ‘Now exiting the racist part of America.’
“My job at the telephone company was a stark reminder of that; I quickly realized how my co-workers who look like me–Black women–were discriminated against on the pettiest things in the workplace. I made sure that my union stewards knew about it. But before I knew it, my co-workers pushed me to become the first job steward in the telephone company and eventually elected me as the first Black woman president of our CWA local.”
Wheeler’s struggle against racism was a collective effort. She said that the power of her union and the strength of the contract allowed her the space to fight injustice in the workplace.
“I wouldn’t have been able to be so brave had it not been for the fact that I was protected by a collective bargaining agreement,” Wheeler said. “Our union contract allowed us to push back and call out injustices and inequalities without fear of retaliation. Our union contract allowed us to call out racism without fear of being fired and allowed us to call out gender disparities without fear of being passed over for promotions. Our union contract allowed us to look the boss in the eyes and speak truth to power. It was these early experiences that shaped who I am as a woman, and I carry them with me today.”
Wheeler explained how she first became acquainted with the ILWU when she was working for the AFL-CIO in 2002 and was assigned to the lockout of West Coast longshore workers.
“When I arrived at Local 13, I had no idea what I was walking into. I had not heard about the longshore workers but when I walked into that union hall, I found my tribe,” she said. “The ILWU’s legacy is a testament to the power that arises when the civil rights and labor movements work hand in hand. The fight against economic injustice, racial injustice, and gender inequality are things we have to continue to fight every day.”
Wheeler ended her speech by emphasizing the need for mentorship and uplifting one another in the labor movement.
“Once you get up, you have got to hold the door open for someone behind you,” Wheeler said. “We need a union culture that supports union women. It requires a collective effort beyond individual actions. Supporting and uplifting one another is essential, No matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, and no matter who you love, there is a place for you in this labor movement.”
Women leaders speak
The next session, “Women Leaders Speak,” featured a panel facilitated by Local 63’s Patricia Aguirre and consisting of Local 10 Vice President Vanetta Hamlin, Local 63 OCU Vice President Dawn Feikema, Local 500 Executive Board member Joulene Parent, Local 13 Chief Dispatcher Brandi Good, and former Local 54 Vice President Stef Flores. They discussed their routes to leadership and some of the hurdles they had to overcome.
This was followed by a small group discussion that paired the tables with women leaders for a discussion about the road to leadership. Delegates also had the opportunity to suggest ways that the locals can provide a supportive environment for women to get involved in the union and take on leadership roles. At the end of the session, a list of ideas was compiled and then posted for delegates to vote on with a large majority of delegates in favor of forming an International Women’s Committee.
Patricia Aguirre said that this exercise stood out for her during the conference. “This was a unique opportunity for all of us to bring our ideas forward and suggest ways that the union could create a more positive environment for women who want to get involved or run for leadership; we never had a forum to do that,” Aguirre said. “It was interesting to see the outcome. I thought maybe it would be a mentorship program or a committee at the local level, but this body wants something on a grander scale for us and we deserve that as women in the ILWU.”
Working styles
The next workshop was a presentation and group exercises focused on how different personality types and “working styles” can collaborate to make an effective team. Attendees learned about their working style and the strengths they bring to a team with a diversity of styles. The session was facilitated by Kathy Stevens of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services.
Be More than a Bystander
The afternoon session was an anti-harassment and anti-bullying training session called “Be More than a Bystander” led by Local 500’s Scarlett Kelly and Angela Talic, Local 502’s Amy Pawson, and ILWU Canada Third Vice President Jessica Isbister.
The training was adapted from a training program for ILWU Canada longshore workers that teaches people in the workplace the skills to know how to intervene safely and effectively when they see harassment or bullying in the workplace.
Self-care
The day ended with a workshop, “Self-Care for Union Leaders,” led by Maria Abadesco and Patricia Contreras-Flores that provided tools to cope with the everyday stresses and demands of work, union commitments, and family responsibilities.
Paying it forward
The conference’s final panel “Paying it Forward: Union Mentorship and Young Workers”
featured Local 94’s Fran Grove, Local 23’s Tianna Kelly and Meghan Mason, and Local 13’s Vivian Malauulu, and brought together established ILWU leaders with emerging leaders from the ILWU’s Young Worker Committees to discuss the importance of mentorship and uplifting new workers to set them up for success in the industry and in the union.
Conference reflections
Local 30’s Rose Fowlkes said that the camaraderie and solidarity at the event were amazing and that she appreciated the opportunity to continue to learn about the union. “I was selected to come because I always attend my union meetings. I have been making an effort to meet everyone here because I want to learn about their experiences,” she said.
Local 4 member Amber Nelsen said she was glad that she came despite being overburdened with many responsibilities. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s far surpassed anything that I would have imagined. Here we are with a bunch of people who are asked to do 5,000 things a day and it’s nice not to feel alone in that experience,” she said. “ It just feels good to be heard, seen, and understood. It’s great to be here where our main focus is unity and supporting each other even with all of our differences, especially in a world where there’s so much division.”
Fran Grove was the driving force behind the proposal for the annual conference that passed at the 2021 ILWU Convention. “The Second Annual Women’s Conference has been fantastic,” she said. “It has brought 100-plus women together with like minds so they can share their ideas and build the greatest union that we can. This has allowed everybody an opportunity to find their voice, to find out how they can go back and be useful, and to connect with others. We are the groundwork right here, and we’re going to start to build something that will benefit the whole union.”
