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wbjournal.com | February 7, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 15 make up roughly 40%, on average, of leadership teams in America's six top unions, according to data provided by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. More women have risen to high- profile, top leadership positions in labor. In the summer, Liz Shuler was named the first female president of AFL-CIO, the largest union federation in the U.S., joining other female leaders like Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, and Mary Kay Henry, who leads the Service Employees International Union. "ere's a rise of womens' leadership within our own rank and file," said Merrie Najimy, Massachusetts Teachers Association president. "We have been transforming as a union for the last eight years. We're really changing our culture to put more of the authority and responsibility in the hands of [our] members." e MTA has been pushing diversification efforts over the past decade, and Najimy emphasized the importance of diverse leadership as unions advocate for the needs of all their members. However, Central Massachusetts union leadership is still overwhelmingly male-dominated, despite women's growing presence in organized labor. Of the 12 largest unions in the region, only one is led by a woman. At least four of the top 10 unions have executive teams that are 100% male, with most women in leadership teams holding the position of recording secretary, according to unions' individual websites. New leverage for women in unions Women in labor gained traction in Central Massachusetts last year with the Saint Vincent Hospital nurses of Worcester successfully reaching a contract aer an historic 10-month strike. e Saint Vincent nurses were led by nearly all women, as their union, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, has a nearly 90% female executive team. "I feel like we have a little bit of a 202 Brigham St., Northborough, MA • 508-393-2444 For Tee Times: www.juniperhillgc.com Juniper Hill Golf Course Celebrating Over 85 Years of Golf • Friendly Atmosphere • Two well groomed, established courses • No membership fee • Excellent meeting facilities • 36 Challenging Holes • Top 10 Public Golf Course in Massachusetts • Golf Teaching Center Call us at 508-351-9500 Give the gift of golf Gift certificates for golf, lunch, lessons and equipment are available in the Pro Shop 508-393-2444 Outings & Functions 3 to 300 guests in a variety of settings ARCHITECTURE | PLANNING | DESIGN INNOVATION 50 Speen Street, Ste 300, Framingham, MA 01701 Photo: © Keitaro Yoshioka 617-467-3119 MATZCollaborative.com CREATIVE SPACES FOR LEARNING, GROWING AND SUSTAINING W O M E N I N L E A D E R S H I P F O C U S Merrie Najimy, president of Massachusetts Teachers Association Continued on page 16