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"Today belongs to the sisters," said International President Edwin D. Hill to a standing-room-only crowd at the conference kick-off on Friday, September 17. He encouraged delegates to channel their considerable energy into political activism to help the IBEW-endorsed Democratic presidential candidates. "The spirited enthusiasm of labor union women will help put the Kerry-Edwards ticket over the top."

President Hill also touched on three themes that have been running through conferences and meetings all year: political action, organizing and professionalism. He discussed the special August construction conference called to counter a troubling strain of lack of commitment to excellence. "I see people here who are part of the solution," President Hill said. "Every month of every year you are a greater share of the lifeblood of this union."

In his remarks, International Secretary Treasurer Jerry OConnor focused on politics, mocking the "bizarre" year that an actor impersonates a governor in California and a "former cheerleader at an elite private school in the Northeast who never worked a day in his life impersonates a president."

"I cant imagine why people are buying this," OConnor said. "While Republican boys play macho games, overtime rules were changed to cheat millions of workers out of pay and corporate leaders get fat tax breaks. Enough is bloody enough. Its time to get Bush and Cheney the hell out of Washington. Theres no better group in the world to accomplish this than Americas working women."

Sanford, right, greets speaker Gloria Johnson, former president of the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Also revving up the crowd on Friday morning was womens labor movement pioneer Gloria Johnson, the recently retired president of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW). She discussed the importance of women in the upcoming election and implored them to work through November to spread the word of the conference to others. "The challenge is clear -- dont let what you learn here stay here," Johnson said. "Youve got to take it with you and share what youve learned with other women."

The 2004 IBEW International Womens Conferences was the first union-wide gathering of IBEW women since the Womens Caucus held before the 2001 convention in San Francisco. This year, the theme was "IBEW Women United: Are you Ready?" Packed into the conference schedule were panels on leadership, the impact of globalization, economics and workers rights, discussions of IBEW principles and practices and womens support networks. Also key to the gathering were conference standbys on such vital union subjects as political action and lobbying as well as branch caucuses.

A group of delegates confer during a conference workshop.

Local 359 members Sue Fredericks and Theresa Johnson, employees of Florida Light and Power, said they hoped to return to Miami and energize the other women in their local to get involved, both in union and political activities. Fredericks said she recently reviewed the locals voter registration rolls. "When I saw the list of people who werent registered, it shocked me," she said.

Right: IBEW Journal Managing Editor Carol Cipolari (left) meets Local 359 delegates Theresa Johnson and Sue Fredericks (center) from Miami.

Susan Flashman, an inside wireman from Local 26 in Washington, said she appreciated the opportunity to meet other women and see how they establish themselves in their locals. After 20 years of membership, she said she was elected this year to the locals examining board.

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