(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Erie County Local and Unit President Denise Szymura believes it’s extremely important that Unions continue to take an active role as positive change agents to advance Women’s Rights.

Szymura, the Chief Dietician at the Erie County Senior Services Department, also serves as the Western New York Chapter President of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) - an AFL-CIO Constituency Group that works to unify all Union Women to determine common problems and concerns, and to develop action programs to address them.

Szymura (Pictured Above/Ove Overmyer Photo), who received CSEA’s Irene Carr Leadership Award in 2017 for her efforts to advocate for Union Women, readily admits Union Organizations like CLUW are absolutely vital for positive change to occur.

She started her public service career with the county in 1981 and said she has seen limited progress for Working Women.

“We ‘are not even close to where we need to be,’” she said.

“CLUW ‘really provides a network for’ Union Women from ‘different’ organizations ‘to connect on the simplest level,’” Szymura said. “We ‘discuss what is going on’ in our workplaces and ‘share’ strategies ‘and remedies common to’ women.  We ‘develop’ action programs ‘within the framework of our Unions to deal effectively with those objectives.’”

Szymura highlights a 2016 Economic Policy Institute (EPI) Study that reported Union Women were paid 23% more than Non-Union Women.

Moreover, she added, Unions have narrowed the gender wage gap significantly.

“It ‘stands to reason if we want to improve work and life conditions for all’ Working Women, ‘we must support the efforts and mission of our constituency groups like CLUW,’” Szymura said. “Considering the fact women ‘make up the majority of our’ CSEA Membership, ‘we also need to stake out our rightful place in making sure all our efforts are coordinated and fully inclusive of women.’  Besides, Women Union Members ‘are also more likely to have various types of paid leave to balance work and family.’  ‘Some Union Women are doing better than others’ – ‘we would also like to level the playing field for Workers who are lagging behind.’  That is something ‘every’ Worker, Union and Non-Union, ‘should be fighting for.’  ‘It’s just the right thing to do.’”

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