CLUW annual awards dinner marks International Women's Day...
On March 17th, 2016 The Coalition of Labor Union Women, CLUW, Chicago Chapter, celebrated International Women's Day with its annual awards dinner, "Dreaming Big, Making It Happen." Florence Criley Award winners were Elise M. Foster, Vice President of the National Association of Letter Carriers and Jeanne E. Cameron, Director of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans and union activist for various unions. The Olga Madar Award was presented to Clayola Brown, President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. More than 150 guests attended the affair.
Florence Criley, a founding CLUW member, was a long time member of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers Union after serving as staff of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse's Union. She was also an activist in other union activities.
Olga Marie Madar, also a founder of CLUW in 1974 in Chicago, was a member of the United Auto Workers for 33 years and the 1st woman elected to the UAW International Executive Board.
One of the highlights of the evening was when Elsie M. Foster, first woman Vice President in Chicago of the Letter Carriers, talked about working the phone banks in this election for candidates who oppose the current governors anti-union polices and seeing the candidates win.
Another highlight was seeing honoree Jeanne E. Cameron rewarded since she had spent 10 years as an organizer for Unite Here have her mother Janet Cameron, a CPS teacher and CTU member present for the ceremony. Jeanne is also a CPS graduate.
Finally, Clayola Brown, who served for 10 years as a Vice President on the AFL-CIO Executive Council, talked about the ways in which unions bring together all the diverse sections of humanity striving together for common goals for the good of humanity.
The dinner was attended by members of the CTU local 1 Women's Rights Committee who have been active in both CLUW activities both on the local and national level.
