Missouri Fire Fighters Help Unify Union Women

Michele Newby (second from the right) and Julie Weiss (second from the left in back) with the Greater Kansas City delegation at CLUW's national convention.

November 5, 2009 – Two Kansas City, MO Local 42 fire fighters have been elected to serve in leadership roles within the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW).

Representing IAFF members, Michele Newby, a 10-year veteran fire fighter, will serve on the CLUW National Officers Council as Vice President. Julie Weiss, a seven-year veteran fire fighter, will represent the interests of smaller unions as a National Delegate to the CLUW Executive Board.

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger says, “I am proud that two IAFF women leaders will be playing key roles in CLUW’s mission to protect the rights of America’s workers and to ensure that women have a voice as decisions about the future of the labor movement are made.”

Newby, who serves on the Local 42 Executive Board as a Business Agent, and Weiss were instrumental in organizing the Greater Kansas City Chapter of CLUW. Newby was elected its first president and Weiss was elected as the recording secretary. The chapter already represents nearly 100 members.

“As soon as I became a fire fighter, I made a conscious decision to be active within my union and to do what I can to help my brothers and sisters,” says Newby. “The more coalitions we form with other labor organizations, the stronger we become in the labor movement as a whole. That is why I became involved with CLUW and am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”

Weiss agrees, “I have already seen within my own community how quickly CLUW can unify people to work toward common goals. I am hoping to find similar success in my new national-level position.”

The Coalition of Labor Union Women was formed in 1974 to unify all union women and to work toward four basic goals: to promote affirmative action in the workplace; to strengthen the role of women in unions; to organize the unorganized women; and to increase the involvement of women in the political and legislative process.