Get the facts! Know your rights!
Know what works!
 Ida L. Castro,
Director-designate of the Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor,
launched the Bureau's newest public education campaign, "Don't Work in the
Dark!" Summits on the Move!In
September 1996, more than 3,000 women at 19 sites across the country
participated in the Women's Bureau Working Women's Summits. They brainstormed
about downsizing in Westchester, NY, and lifelong learning in Lansing, MI and
Albuquerque, NM; discussed pensions in Tampa, FL and child care in Seattle, WA.
They focused on flexible workplaces in San Francisco; zeroed in on the glass
ceiling in Kansas City; and talked fair pay in Philadelphia. In addition,
pledges of the Working Women Count Honor Roll were given certificates of honor
during most of the summits for their contributions to making work better for
working women. What an incredible exchange of information and ideas!
| This unprecedented
month-long series of summits was sponsored not only by the Women's Bureau, but
by DOL's Employment and Training Administration, Veterans' Employment and
Training Service, Wage & Hour Division, and Office of Federal Contract
Compliance Programs.
"Don't Work in the Dark!" - an
initiative broadened by the head of the Women's Bureau, Ida L. Castro,
encourages America's working women - and women who want to work ? to get the
facts about women in the workforce, know their rights
at the workplace, and find out
what works from employers across the country who are helping to make
work better for working women.
"Women now know that there are
steps they can take right now to advance their careers, balance the demands of
work and family, and ensure their retirement security," said Secretary
Robert B. Reich.
"Our goal was to make certain that at the end of the day, women
would walk away with the tools necessary to make their lives better at work and
at home," said Castro. "Based on the women's feedback, I believe we
accomplished that quite well!"
| To help women take the first
step, the Women's Bureau, along with other contributing agencies, developed a
"Don't Work in the Dark!" kit. The kit, divided into sections
representing each phase of the "Don't Work in the Dark!"
campaign, contains the following information to get women started on knowing
the facts, knowing their rights, and knowing what works in the workplace.
 The Know Your Rights
envelope contains brochures on sexual harassment, pregnancy
discrimination, the Family and Medical Leave Act, age and wage discrimination,
and disability discrimination.
The Know the Facts
section includes publications from the newly launched Fair Pay
Clearinghouse Worth More Than We Earn: Fair Pay for Working Women and
What Works: Fair Pay for Working Women, a pensions checklist and
brochure, 20 Facts on Women Workers, and What Women Need to Know
About Downsizing fact sheets, and resource information specific to each
summit topic. 
on graphic for Fair Pay.
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The Know What
Works section contains What Works! The Working Women Count Honor
Roll Report: A Selection of Programs and Policies that Make Work Better.
Secretary of Labor, Robert B. Reich visited three of the summits via
satellite in Westchester, Albuquerque, and Tampa. Reich thanked the nearly
1,300 Working Women Count Honor Roll pledges, some of whom were recognized and
honored with certificates during the summits, for their commitment to helping
make work better for working women.
Audience participants also had the opportunity to share questions and
comments directly with the Secretary. Discussions were so lively that even he
sometimes forgot he was not in the same room with the summit attendees!
In the midst of all the excitement, the Women's Bureau was thrilled to
receive proclamations from Mayors of both San Francisco and Tampa citing the
events as "Don't Work in the Dark Day!" in each respective city.
A warm thank you to Secretary Reich, and to the Department of Labor agency
heads, as well as regional sponsors, state and local government, and private
organizations, who participated, supported, attended, and contributed to making
all the Bureau's regional summits successful. Together we can make a better
workplace for everyone! Congratulations and big thanks go out to the Women's
Bureau's Regional Administrators and staff, and to the National Office for their
hard work and dedication.
Let the Summits Begin!
September 4, Regions I & II:
The Working Women's Regional Summit series was launched on September 4, 1996
at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York.
Sponsored by the Women's Bureau's regional offices in Boston and New York,
this first summit "Changing Employment Times: Facts that Women and
their Families Need to Know!" focused on coping with the downsizing
trend that has been plaguing the eastern United States.
Camille Failla-Murphy, Executive Director, Westchester County Office for
Women/President of the National Association of Commissions for Women, opened the
ceremony with a salute by the local color guard. Greetings from Congresswomen
Nita Lowey and Sue Kelly jump-started the day.
Summit participants tuned into their bodies during an aerobic stretch
break.
The audience was later awed by the moving remarks of Dr. Joseph Hankin,
President of Westchester Community College. Leslie Loble, Special Counsel to
the Secretary, spoke on the need for women to retool themselves to keep up with
the changing dynamics of the workforce.
"I was prepared to hear nothing but depressing news given the topic,
but this conference was very uplifting and gave me a lot of hope and
encouragement about my future as an entrepreneur," said summit participant
Tracy Steinem.
September 5, Region III:
It was then off to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for "Challenges
for the 21st Century: Fair Pay and the Glass Ceiling"
Philadelphia's hottest news anchor Siani Lee served as moderator. Fair Pay,
Pensions, the Glass Ceiling, and Life Long Learning were the topics of the day.
Director-designate Castro gave the keynote speech during the luncheon,
encouraging women to continue the fight to close the wage gap and shatter the
glass ceiling. DOL's Preston Taylor, Assistant Secretary for Veterans'
Employment and Training Service, spoke to the audience on the accomplishments
and status of women veterans.
The conference also served as the launching pad for the Women's Bureau Fair
Pay Clearinghouse. (See details on page 4: column 3)
September 10, Region IX:
The third stop on the map was in picturesque San Francisco, California.
"Workplace Flexibility" was the buzz at the beautiful
Palace of Fine Arts Theater with women from every profession in attendance.
Here women take advantage of all of the invaluable resource information
provided to summit goers.
Popular local NBC
anchor Ysabel Duron moderated the panel of experts who spoke on the issues of
flexitime, work sharing, job sharing, telecommuting, and compressed work weeks.
Maria Echaveste, Administrator of the Wage & Hour Division, spoke
to women about the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and proposals to expand it.
FMLA, signed into Congress in 1993, offers workers up to twelve weeks of unpaid
leave for family emergencies.
September 12, Region X:
We hit the halfway mark in Seattle, Washington. "Child Care,
" a crucial factor in women's successful participation in the
workforce, was the topic of discussion at the University of Washington Center
for Urban Horticulture.
Representatives from all sectors of the Seattle community shared valuable
information on how to identify child and elder care needs and concerns, create
small dialogue groups to exchange ideas about what works, build networks through
new community partnerships, and obtain information about related governmental
programs and resources.
September 17, Regions VII & VIII:
Watch out Oprah... here comes talk show host Ida L. Castro in her Kansas
City debut . . .
"The Glass Ceiling" was the topic during this
mammoth network of summits held at the University of Missouri in Kansas City,
Missouri. | The WB held
twelve concurrent conferences that day drawing an overall audience of more than
1,300 people. The conference was broadcast via satellite to sites in St. Louis
& Springfield, MO; Denver, CO; Lincoln, North Platte, and Norfold, NE;
Cheyenne & Rock Springs, WY; Des Moines & Iowa City, IA; and Topeka &
Garden City, KS. The summit will be rebroadcast on local cable.
Labor officials such as Dr. Bernard Anderson, Assistant Secretary for
the Employment Standards Administration, gave commentary on the issue of
shattering the glass ceiling. 
Conference goer Donna Stack poses a question to the panelists
during a Q & A segment at the University of Missouri - Kansas City.
Shirley Wilcher, Deputy Assistant, Secretary for the Office of Federal
Contract Compliance Programs, and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Labor
Rene Redwood served as panel members discussing the ramifications of affirmative
action and the findings of the Glass Ceiling Commission report.
September 19, Region VI:
It was raining when we first arrived in Albuquerque, but the sunshine
prevailed for summit number six. The Holiday Inn - Pyramid was the place and
"Lifelong Learning"
was the topic. "As we approach the new millennium, new
technologies and global competition are of major concern to working Americans.
| For women, the stakes are
even higher because of the multiple roles we hold in society," said
Director- designate Castro to summit goers in Albuquerque. "That's why we
must get the facts, know our rights, and learn what works in order to maintain
?and advance in our place."
ETA's John Robinson talked about job training, retraining, and how to
start a new career. The summit also provided information on harassment in the
workplace and solutions to the wage gap. One participant expressed her
enthusiasm. "This conference has changed my entire life," said
Sherry Garcia. "The opportunity to speak directly to the Secretary himself
made me feel like my voice is important." 
Castro
recognizes recipients from "New Beginnings" for their contributions to
the Working Women Count Honor Roll.
September 25,
Region V:
"Lifelong Learning" was also a hot ticket topic in
Lansing, Michigan at the Lansing Center.
More than 400 women showed up to get the latest on career information, life
planning, pay equity, workplace rights, action planning, community education,
family economics, and much more.
Experts from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Stephanie Powers from
DOL's Employment and Training Administration, and state and local government
representatives were on hand during this day long informative and action packed
summit. |
September 27,
Region IV:
The summits closed with a bang in sunny Tampa, Florida with the topic 
Women
considering retirement received the latest information on life after retirement,
social security benefits, and pension security.
"Know
Your Rights, Know the Facts, Know What Works: Pensions"
at the Holiday Inn - Tampa. David Tseng, Special Assistant to
the Assistant Secretary for the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration,
explained to summit goers how to best prepare themselves for retirement through
pensions. Other experts on the issues of pensions from the Washington DC based
Women's Pension Project, AAUW and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs
engaged in lively dialogue with participants on the current status and future
outlook of women's economic security. This distinguished panel was moderated by
the Honorable Rita Garvey, Mayor of Clearwater. Highlights of the day included
participation by Florida's Lt. Governor and the teleconference with Secretary
Reich. More good news. . . Women's Bureau Releases Honor Roll
Report
In September 1996, the Women's Bureau joined with working women and
employers across the country in releasing the Working Women Count Honor
Roll Report. | This
report is the first installment of the Women's Bureau's effort to respond to
women's needs as reflected in the unprecedented Working Women Count
survey spearheaded by former Director Karen Nussbaum.
In 1994, nearly a quarter of a million women told the Bureau that they
demanded improvement in three specific areas: pay and benefits, family-friendly
workplaces, and respect and opportunity on the job. The Working Women
Count Honor Roll Report provides concrete information and references on
employers and organizations that are addressing women's deepest fears about
their families' economic security, their difficulty in balancing work and
family, and their desire to make career advances.
To obtain a
copy of this report, contact the Women's Bureau National Office at
1-800-827-5335. A final Honor Roll Report will be available in early spring.
Summit Participants Find Jobs on the Spot Via Internet
Thanks to the Employment and Training Administration's support,
America's Job Bank was featured throughout the Working Women's Summits.
A reported total of eight summit participants obtained jobs through this
| service in New Mexico, New
York, and California. America's Job Bank is a free, computerized job bank on
the Internet that links employers to job seekers. 
ETA
representative demonstrates America's Job Bank at the San Francisco summit.
With more than 500,000 jobs listed, America's Job Bank
provides job seekers with the largest pool of active job opportunities anywhere,
and provides employers rapid nationwide exposure for job openings. Visit the
AJB website at http://www.AJB.dni.us.
Fair Pay Clearinghouse in Business
On September 5, 1996, the Women's Bureau announced the opening of its new
Fair Pay Clearinghouse.
"Three out of four American working women, including full-time and
part-time workers, get paid less than $25,000 per year," says Castro. "Improving
pay scales is a top priority for change."
The Women's Bureau created the Fair Pay Clearinghouse to provide information
to help working women and men, employers and other organizations "improve
pay scales." |
Director-designate Castro and Region III Administrator Cornelia Moore
kick-off the announcement.
To access the Clearinghouse, visit the Women's Bureau's website at
http://www.dol.gov/wb/ or call 1-800- 347-3741.
Advice for People Facing Disability Discrimination Is Now Available
If you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or
more major life activities (walking, seeing, speaking, or hearing, for example),
you should know about your workplace rights.
The Women's Bureau now has available a brochure on "Disability
Discrimination" that explains your legal and civil rights, and
tells what you can do if you experience discrimination on the job.
For a copy of the brochure, call 1-800-827-5335 or visit the Women's Bureau
website at http://www.dol.gov/wb/
Report on the Effects of Downsizing on Women Released
The latest Women's Bureau fact sheet, "What Women Need to Know
About Downsizing," was released in September 1996.
The fact sheet, which finds that women bear a disproportionate burden of the
costs of downsizing in terms of lost earnings and re-employment, was cited in a
number of newspapers including a front page article in the Wall Street
Journal on October 8, 1996.
"What Women Need to Know About Downsizing," is the
first step in a larger scale effort by the Women's Bureau to understand how
different groups of women are affected by downsizing and displacement.
An upcoming report will provide findings and analysis on the magnitude of
job displacement; why displacement is an important issue for women, their
families and society; and how different groups of women fare after displacement.
A copy of the fact sheet can be obtained on the Women's Bureau website
address http://www.dol.gov/wb/ or by calling us at 1-800-827-5335.
The Department of Labor Awards $610,000 to Promote Women in
Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations
Women seeking to enter and move up in apprenticeship and nontraditional
occupations will benefit directly from $610,000 in technical assistance grants
announced by Secretary Robert B. Reich on October 6, 1996.
"The Department's twin objectives in this effort are to improve
opportunities for good jobs for women while building a skilled American
workforce for employers to succeed in today's global marketplace," Reich
said.
The funds come through the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional
Occupations (WANTO) Act.
The grantees include: Chicago Women in Trades, Chicago, IL; Wider
Opportunities for Women, Washington, D.C.; Women in Non-Traditional Employment
Roles, Long Beach, CA; and YWCA's Women in Trades, Memphis, TN.
Labor Department Develops Partnership with the National Council of
Negro Women
October 11, 1996, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor, Cynthia Metzler and
President and CEO, Dr. Dorothy Height of the National Council of Negro Women
signed a historical cooperative agreement.
The partnership is intended to advance the interests of African American
women and foster the growth of women in all aspects of the workforce. It will
also encourage ongoing communication between the NCNW and the following DOL
agencies: the Women's Bureau, Employment and Training Administration, Employment
Standards Administration, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Office of
Small Business Programs, and Veterans' Employment and Training Service.
Thousands of Women Speak Up Close and in Person to Women's Bureau Head
Director-designate Ida L. Castro hadn't been at the Women's Bureau long when
she packed up her bags and went out on the road.
"How can I truly represent this nation's working women unless I go to
them and find out what they need?"
That's exactly what Castro's been doing for the past six months ——
visiting working women in their own towns and communities ? whether they are in
New York, NY; or Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; or Las Vegas, NV; Hartford, CT or
Miami, FL.
Castro has pulled together groups of child care workers and company
executives; displaced homemakers and high- school girls in non-traditional
training; farm workers and hotel and casino employees; to talk about their
aspirations and the issues they face every day.
The topics for the Regional Working Women Summits were born from these
sometimes painful, sometimes inspiring, yet always candid discussions about
day-to-day life and problems.
We want to thank these women for sharing their trials and successes that
will shape the goals of the Women's Bureau for the months and years to come.
National Working Women's Summit
The Women's Bureau is pleased to announce a National Working Women's Summit
in response to the recent regional working women's summit series in September.
The National Summit will take place via satellite broadcast to regions
throughout the country some time in late spring/early summer of 1997. Stay
tuned for more details!
WB Offers Tools to Combat Domestic Violence in the Workplace
In October, the Women's Bureau released a fact sheet to help educate the
public on the effects of domestic violence in the workplace. Domestic
Violence: A Workplace Issue provides women, employers, unions, and
organizations with the latest sources for information and support to help deal
with this devastating problem. For copies, call us at 1-800-827-5335 or visit
our website at www.dol.gov/wb/.
Women's Bureau Directory
Publications:
202-219-6652 x141
Work & Family Clearinghouse:
1-800-827-5335
Fair Pay Clearinghouse:
1-800-347-3741
Website Address: http://www.dol.gov/wb/
Women's Bureau's National/Regional Offices
National
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room S-3002
Washington, DC 20210
PH:
(800) 827-5335
FX: (202) 219-5529
Region I: Boston
J.F. Kennedy Federal Building
Government Center, Room E-270
Boston,
MA 02203
Phone: (617) 565-1988
Fax: (617) 565-1986
(Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont)
Region II: New York
201 Varick Street, Room 601
New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212)
337-2389
Fax: (212) 337-2394
(New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Virgin Islands)
Region III: Philadelphia
Room 2450, Gateway Bldg.
3535 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 596-1183 or (800) 379-9042
Fax: (215)
596-0753
(Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia,
West Virginia)
Region IV: Atlanta
1371 Peachtree Street, NE Room 323
Atlanta, GA 30367
Phone: (404)
347-4461
(404) 347-1755
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)
Region V: Chicago
230 S. Dearborn Street, Room 1022
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone:
(312) 353-6985 or (800) 648-8183
(312) 353-6986
(Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin)
Region VI: Dallas
Federal Building
525 Griffin Street
Suite 735
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: (214) 767-6985
(214) 767-5418
(Arkansas, Louisiana,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)
Region VII: Kansas City
Center City Square Building
1100 Main Street, Suite 1230
Kansas
City, MO 64105
Phone: (816) 426-6108 or (800) 252-4706
(816) 426-6107
Region VIll: Denver
1801 California Street, Suite 905
Denver, CO 80202-2614
Phone:
(303) 844-1286 or (800) 299-0886
(303) 844-1283
(Colorado, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)
Region IX: San Francisco
71 Stevenson Street, Suite 927
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415)
975-4750
Fax: (415) 975-4753
(Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii,
Nevada)
Region X: Seattle
1111 Third Avenue, Room 885
Seattle, WA 98101-3211
Phone: (206)
553-1534
(206) 553-5085
(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)
The Women's Bureau's mission is to formulate standards and policies
which shall promote the welfare of wage earning women. As part of the
Department of Labor, we inform people about the rights of working women, using
brochures, fact sheets, and newsletters like this one. Together we can make a
better workplace for everyone!
DON'T WORK IN THE DARK. . . WORK SMART!
Ida. L. Castro
Women's Bureau
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