Ellen Cassedy, a founding member of 9to5, the National Association of Women Office Workers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and explained how the organization was founded, which inspired the movie “9 to 5” that starred Jane Fonda and featured the Dolly Parton song of the same name.
Cassedy is also the author of “Working 9 to 5: A women’s movement, a labor union, and the iconic movie.”
9to5 was established in 1973 as a grassroots collective for female office workers and addressed issues such as low pay and lack of opportunities for advancement. Early in its history, the group won a class action lawsuit against several Boston publishing companies, with female plaintiffs awarded $1.5 million in back pay.
Cassedy spoke about the evolution of the organization and the successes it brought for women. She explained how an activist connection between actress Jane Fonda and one of the members led to the development of the movie and Parton's song, which became an anthem of female empowerment in the workplace.
Cassedy then discussed the current state of union organizing and the myriad of challenges workers face today. She said it is great that workers are standing up together through solidarity, but ultimately, workers must forge their own path.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.