Mia Dell, AFL-CIO Deputy Director of Advocacy, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the role of women in the labor movement.
Dell explained how the AFL-CIO is made-up of different sub-departments, some of whom advocate for the care economy. Women, she said, contribute to the cause and maintain the care infrastructure. They play an important, especially those who, after starting a family, decide to stay in the workforce and provide for their families.
She then discussed her role in the AFL-CIO and how she lobbies at the local and state level for legislation and policy.
Dell spoke about the importance of registered apprenticeship programs and how they help women earn good wages and great benefits. While the percentage of women who work as members of the building trades has increased from 2 percent to 4 percent, more needs to be done to improve this number. Dell feels a legislative approach would work best to recruite more women into the trades.
She also explained why AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler established a women’s economic security department. Half of the department focuses on getting women into better-paying jobs, and the other half works to find a way to compensate women for providing care to their families.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.
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