Category: News

For Women’s History Month, Let’s Celebrate Women’s Contributions to Labor (With Some Books!)

Jason Allen

March is Women’s History Month, a time to highlight and honor women’s contributions to history, culture and society . This year’s theme is “Women Who Tell Stories,” which recognizes “women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media.”

As library employees, we have a special role in preserving and sharing women’s stories and achievements. One of these stories is the history of women in labor, which is often missing from textbooks and the media.

Women have always been key to the labor movement, from organizing strikes and unions, to rallying for better working conditions and wages, to documenting and inspiring workers’ struggles for justice. For Women’s History Month, Council 2 compiled a list [PDF] of recommended reading to help expand our appreciation for the under-valued roles women have played in history.

Below is a list of recommended reading from Council 2 highlighting the role of women in history, with links to the KCLS catalog:

The following books are ones that KCLS does not own, but you can request through Interlibrary Loan (Hi! 👋That’s the department where I work! We welcome your requests!):

  • Song of the Stubborn One Thousand: The Watsonville Canning Strike, 1985-87 (2016) by Peter Shapiro
  • Jailed for Freedom: American Women Win the Vote (1995) by Doris Stevens
  • Labor of Love, Labor of Sorrow: Black Women, Work, and the Family, from Slavery to the Present (2009) by Jacqueline Jones

Happy Women’s History Month!

May Day

Emily1857

May 1st is known as International Workers Day throughout the US and 80 other countries. In the 1880’s, thousands of workers began to strike for an eight-hour work day. The American Federation of Labor (formerly known as the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions) together with the Knights of Labor decided that beginning on May 1st, 1886, an eight hour workday would become the new standard in both the US and Canada. To learn more about the history of this important workers day, visit https://internationalworkersday.org/.

To honor the work each and every one of you do for the organization, our Union is providing a gift box of treats the week of May 1st for each location in the KCLS system.

2022 Hardship Fund

Emily1857

Local1857 Main is able to assist Union Members in need with a financial award from a Hardship Fund. We recognize the impact that economic distress and no sub hours at KCLS has taken on many of our peers. This will be the second year we have offered this opportunity. 

The money is available from a budgetary surplus due to fewer Union expenses over this past year and good stewardship of Members’ dues. The Hardship Fund takes into consideration maintaining a healthy balance sheet for the Union and the work involved to manage and grant the awards. 

This project is undertaken with the goal of helping members in good standing – current in their dues – with an award size which balances available funds and an amount big enough to make a difference. We aim to grant 100 individual Member awards of $400 dollars each or 133 awards of $300 each, depending on Member interest.  

If you have been negatively impacted by fewer KCLS work hours or other effects of recent economic changes, please apply for a financial award here.  Applications will be accepted through May 15.

Please read the Q+A for other helpful information.

Q+A

How will the awards be decided?

All Members in good standing who apply have equal access to the award. If interest exceeds the number of meaningful awards, a lottery will be held. The application asks for an optional explanation of how you would benefit which helps us understand the impact of the Hardship Fund project and, with your permission, may be used for highlighting the project.  

How will my privacy be assured if I do apply?

No individuals’ information will be shared. A small task force will be receiving and reviewing applications, verifying information and cutting checks. Confidentiality and privacy are values of the task force.

Why not just divide available monies equally among all 1857 Members?

With ~ 800 Members, we did not feel that an equal award for each would be a significant benefit.  

Why not suspend dues for Members instead?

The AFSCME Constitution requires local chapters to collect dues which are used for staff costs for our Staff Representative, ongoing expenses including trainings, approved outlays and operational costs.

How will I get my award?

Awards will be mailed to your home in the form of a check when the application period is over and the task force has completed its review.

Can the awards be bigger?

Local1857 Main would have its own reporting liability for awards above $500 which is onerous for us.  An award of $400 or $300, depending on Member interest, is big enough to make a difference, can benefit a significant number of Members and allow the project to proceed simply. 

Is there tax liability to me in receiving this award?

Please check with the IRS for any increased tax liability for such an award. Local1857 Main is unable to provide tax guidance.

I applied in 2021. May I apply again?

Yes.

Will the Hardship Fund be ongoing?

We will evaluate the project next year  and decide if we are able to repeat it based on interest, administration and available funds.

Disrupting Microaggressions Workshop

Emily1857

Interested in learning about implicit bias and microaggressions?

Join us on Monday July 26th from 3-4:30 pm for an interactive 1857 sponsored training “Implicit Bias and Microaggressions: Effective Responses and Actions.”

Psychologist and Professor Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D., defines microaggressions as “the everyday slights, indignities, put-downs, and insults that people of color, women, LGBT populations, or those who are marginalized experience in their day-to-day interactions with people.” For those who experience them, microaggressions tend to create a hostile and invalidating climate and affect individuals deeply. 

This interactive session will focus not just on recognizing bias and microaggressions but also on learning intervention strategies and skills to respond and take action. Presenter Alanna Aiko Moore and co-presenter, Jaena Alabi, will teach intervention strategies and demonstrate how to take action. Issues discussed will include power and impact, intersectionality, different types of bias and microaggressions, and strategic intervention strategies. Participants will also explore personal experience scenarios and intervention strategies from various perspectives, including perpetrator, witness/bystander, and target. This workshop will be a combination of lecture, small group work and large group discussion.

Check your personal email for the Zoom link via our Local 1857 Weekly Update, or email local1857bipoccommittee@gmail.com for more details.

Presenter Alanna Aiko Moore currently works as a Librarian for Sociology, Ethnic Studies & Gender Studies, UC San Diego Library and has been the past President of the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association.

Many thanks to the Local 1857 BIPOC Task Force for creating an opportunity for further training and education around the issue of microaggressions so that we may create a more inclusive workplace!

Sign Up for Text Alerts

leas75

Have you ever wanted more options to keep up to date with your union?

Well now you can! We are very excited to announce that local 1857 recently rolled out a new secure text-based notification system for all members. This service will be used to provide our members with reminders of general membership meetings, information about upcoming union events, and updates on contract negotiations as they unfold.

This is an 1857 members-only service, and you are free to opt-out or change your designated phone number at any time. Please click here to be taken to the secure registration form,  and—while we work out the kinks—please allow up to one week to receive your first text.