Worcester Business Journal

14 Worcester Business Journal | February 7, 2022 | wbjournal.com F O C U S W O M E N I N L E A D E R S H I P W hile organized labor has historically been hallmarked by the male-dominated trades, unionized women seem to be fueling a new era in the movement, particularly in industries highly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic like health care, education, and hospitality. In January alone, 61 union strikes and labor protests were occurring around the country, nearly double the 31 from January 2021, according to Cornell University's new Labor Action Tracker. For all of 2021, the nation had 1,029 strikes and protests, including 43 in Massachusetts. Working women still have a lower rate of unionization than men, but the gap between men's and women's union membership has been closing since the 1980s, tightening from a 10-percentage- point to a 0.5-percentage-point difference in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "A lot of the issues that some people might predominantly say are women's issues are our issues. ey're workers' issues, whether it's paycheck fairness or access to affordable childcare," said Steven Tolman, president of Massachusetts' AFL-CIO chapter. Central Mass. falls behind is change has been reflected in leadership, at least nationally. Women Even as gender diversity in Central Massachusetts union leadership significantly lags national averages, the power of women in organized labor is rising, fueled by the industries impacted most by COVID-19 BY KATHERINE HAMILTON WBJ Staff Writer Power in numbers Members of the Educational Association of Worcester rally for safe working conditions outside Worcester City Hall in March 2021. Women make up roughly 75% of the education and healthcare workforces. PHOTO | MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION Central Massachusetts union leaders, by gender Largest unions Members Top executive Gender Laborers' International Union of North America, Distric Council, in Hopkinton 21,046 Joseph Bonfiglio, business manager Male Service Employees International Union, Local 509, in Marlborough 16,546 Peter MacKinnon, president Male National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 301, in Natick 6,270 Daniel St. Marie, president Male International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 4, in Medway 5,274 William McLaughlin, business manager Male International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 170, in Worcester 4,347 Shannon George, secretary/treasurer Male United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Eastern Millwright Regional Council, in Framingham 4,066 Rober Loubier, executive secretary/treasurer Male United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 336, in Worcester 1,694 Rene Gibree, president Male Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, New England Joint Board, in Leominster 1,257 Maria Buonaugurio, president Female National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 12, in Worcester 978 Kenneth Janulewicz, president Male United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 1121, in Framingham 894 Timothy Moriarty, president Male Sources: Each union's form LM-2 or LM-3 filing as made available by the U.S. Department of Labor; individual union websites The Boardroom Gap FIRST IN A 3-PART SERIES

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