International Women's Day Dinner March 8, 2019

Union Women In Solidarity (UWIS) had it's fourth annual International Women's Day Dinner on Friday, March 8th, 2019. This sold out event was at Michael's Tuscany Room in San Pedro, CA.

This celebration of women began in 2016 by UWIS's founding member, Valerie Zaks, a longshore worker - she's currently a crane operator and a member of ILWU Local 13 on the LA/LB docks. Valerie's idea was to empower and support union women in the labor movement. She began by creating a facebook page where union women have been able to express issues they've encountered on the job including bullying, lack of support and fear of their surroundings. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing information, outreach and support to union workers globally, nearly 3000 people check-in to talk about the issues going on with women in various workplace settings.

While this was an opportunity to celebrate union women, it was also a fundraiser for UWIS which allowed us to continue our participation in raising awareness of women's issues and empowerment. Our support of the Women's March in Los Angeles both in 2018 & 2019, saluting union women with our International Women's Day Dinner, distributing flowers to union women on Mother's Day. We also saluted the union men on Father's Day, 2018 . Our members joined over 2000 tradeswomen in Seattle, WA for the We Build Nations Conference - a few members participated in helping to build tiny homes on land which the city of Seattle donated for homeless women to keep them warm and safe. We volunteered with the ILWU Local 13 for it's Feed the Community giveaway and the December Toy giveaway.

Our 2019 International Women's Day dinner begins with the ladies entering for a red carpet evening, the guest speaker was Betty Reid Soskin, a Ranger with the National Park Service assigned to the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home-Front National Historical Park in Richmond, CA.At age 97, she is the oldest National Park Ranger and author of a 2018 memoir "Sign My Name to Freedom". Our 150 guests dined on delicious Italian food while being entertained by Mama Earth, a dance troupe led by Toni Temehana Pasion and a DJ. This celebration of women and their determination to have lives which are made better by union affiliation was our primary fundraiser for the year and was very successful.

For additional information, please contact Valerie Zaks, Executive Director email: valerie@unionwomeninsolidarity.org