Josephs honored by women's labor organization

PHILADELPHIA, June 5 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., was honored for her devotion to union and women's issues yesterday at the annual Working Women's Awareness Week Awards Reception held by the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Josephs is the second legislator to receive this honor in the organization's history.

Josephs was among five other honorees at the reception, all of whom were chosen by CLUW for their activist roles in society in support of union members' and women's issues.

"Babette has spent every one of her legislative years as a champion of the rights of workers, women, the LGBT community and every righteous cause we believe in," said Kathy Black, president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women. "For many years, she's also been an active CLUW member, the only elected official in Philadelphia who's joined. In other words, she puts her money, her presence, her power where her principles and her politics are, which is just what we need from our elected officials."

Josephs remarked, "I am extremely honored that the Coalition of Labor Union Women chose to recognize me at this prestigious event. Women's and working family issues are at the forefront of my legislative agenda, and now is the time for all elected officials to show our support. We have made impressive gains, but we still have to make health care available to all, ensure quality public education for the children of working families, and provide them with green jobs for the 21st-century economy."

The group's usual policy specifies that rank-and-file members, not prominent individuals, are eligible for honor by the organization, but an exception was made for Josephs due to her dedication and support of issues and the organization.

Black said Josephs was chosen for this award because not only is she an active member of CLUW, but throughout her legislative career she has shown an impeccable voting record on both women's and union issues, from leading the battle for contraceptive equity to supporting the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. She is also a strong supporter of equal rights for the LGBT community. CLUW applauds her staunch advocacy of H.B. 300, a bill introduced which would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and other areas based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

CLUW is the only union organization for women in the nation, founded in 1974. It aims to unify union women in order to isolate and address common problems and concerns, and then develop programs to deal effectively with those issues.