Unions and Women’s Health Justice

Seeking Women’s Health Justice, a subcommittee of Massachusetts Peace Action’s Fund Healthcare Not Warfare campaign, examines women’s health from the perspective of justice – with the awareness that peace is a fundamental issue of health. The cost of U.S. militarism drains economic resources at the expense of health and lives. Through awareness and understanding of the culture that promotes war, we examine the intersection of peace and women’s health, which is justice. Our work offers paths of action that can be taken to oppose militarism and to nurture health and enhance justice.

To commemorate International Women’s Day, originally organized by the union movement, this webinar explores how unions have played a role in shaping women’s health and health services.

Unions have influenced women’s health and health services by improving working conditions, securing maternity and reproductive rights, expanding access to healthcare, strengthening health services, and challenging gender inequality. Union activism has helped transform women’s health from a private concern into a social and workplace issue, benefiting both women as workers and women as healthcare users.

Speakers:

Katie Murphy is President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), the largest union and professional association for registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Massachusetts, across hospitals and other care settings. She represents nurses and healthcare professionals across Massachusetts, and is active in advocating for safe staffing as well as equitable healthcare policy. She served on the MNA Board of Directors for over a decade, helping shape organizational strategy and representation.

She is a strong proponent for healthcare workers, patients, and women on multiple fronts.

Elizabeth Pellerito is Director of the Labor Education Program at the University of Massachusetts/ Lowell. She is a labor educator known for her work in labor studies and union organizing. As a labor educator, she focuses on training and organizing all university employees on leading labor issues. She is also active on the boards of the Bread & Roses Heritage Festival, the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts and the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development.

She combines labor studies with issues that intersect public health and worker well-being, especially regarding health, safety, and workplace risk topics for a gendered workforce. She is particularly interested in how unions can combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and intimate partner violence.

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