Women first come to the fore in the Amalgamated Transit Union three years after its formation, not as members, but as an organization that supported Amalgamated men and their families.
The 1895 International Convention marked the beginnings of what would become the Amalgamated’s Women’s International Auxiliary. Wives, daughters and sisters of members of the streetcar workers in Saginaw had formed a local division auxiliary and told the Convention they desired to extend their influence and work throughout the United States and Canada.
Their requests were honored and a General Constitution and Laws for the Auxiliary was adopted. It would not be until 1937, however, that an International Women's Auxiliary was formally established. The Auxiliary would contribute substantially to the lives of Amalgamated workers – particularly during strikes and job actions – until its dissolution in 1990.
Early ATU women
In addition to Josephine Casey, another founding member of Local 308, Clara Murphy, was a steward in the Local Union. When her funeral benefit was paid in 1904, it was probably the first time a death benefit was paid to a woman member.
Another founding member of Local 308, Lela Scott, was a delegate to the Ninth International Convention held in Chicago in 1905. She was appointed a member of the Committee on Resolutions and was the first woman member to be nominated to international office as one of three candidates for the office of fourth international vice president. According to the convention proceedings, she withdrew her candidacy.
Women’s place?
In 1904, a spirited debate in The Motorman and Conductor took place over the issue of women members.
In an article entitled “Women’s Place,’’ a correspondent from Pennsylvania stated that the majority belief was “a woman’s place is at home, where she reigns supreme in undisputed power....,” and lamented that women should not be taking men’s jobs. It concluded that: “Women, no matter how competent, cannot command the same salary as men, and if they engage themselves in our occupation to a large extent, we certainly would be compelled to consider them our enemies.”
In the next issue, a response appeared from Josephine Casey, the Local 308 officer, which pointed out the “law of self-preservation” governs all Amalgamated members and that for men and women, married and single, working was a necessity.
Gender-neutral language proposed in 1905
The issue of gender-neutral language was first raised at the 1905 International Convention in Chicago. A delegate from Local 308 called attention to the fact that since “our Union now included ladies in its membership,” the distinctive pronouns “he and she” should be inserted in the Ritual. His suggestion was never made into a motion. It was not until after the 48th Convention in 1986 that the Constitution was revised with gender-inclusive language.
Amalgamated supports women’s suffrage in 1909
At our Eleventh International Convention in Toronto in 1909, a delegate from Lowell, MA, introduced a resolution that the Amalgamated place itself on record as favoring “women’s suffrage as a means of their emancipation.”
The Committee on Resolutions reported favorably on the resolution and recommended its adoption.
This triggered a fiery debate upon the floor of the Convention with opponents arguing, “Women have been well cared for by men. To give them the ballot and its power will fill the courts... so full of divorce cases that they would have no time to try the criminals.”
Supporters of the resolution argued that women who successfully direct their home should have “equal rights with men, who are brought into manhood under their guidance.” The resolution supporting suffrage was passed by the delegates.
Women among Boston ‘Carmen’ organized in 1912
The Amalgamated accepted its next group of women members in 1912 when the employees of the Boston Elevated Railway Company were organized.
There were approximately 7,000 to 8,000 employees working on the Boston system, more than 2,500 of whom signed up when the charter was issued to Local 589 on May 22, 1912. Within two weeks, the company had discharged 80 union activists and supporters.
When efforts to bring about their reinstatement failed, the Local declared a lockout.
A boycott of the Boston system was called by AFL affiliates. After a difficult seven weeks, a settlement was reached.
In reporting on the strike, Local 589’s correspondent to The Motorman and Conductor lauded the support of women employees for their active participation in the union meetings. When the Local held its first election in October 1912, the women voted 100 percent strong.
Mother Jones addresses 1913 Convention
At our Thirteenth International Convention in 1913 in Salt Lake City, there were women delegates representing both Local 308 in Chicago and Local 589 in Boston. The delegates were also privileged to hear the legendary Mary “Mother” Jones, who spoke to the gathering as a special representative for the Western Federation of Miners to make a request for a loan of $1,000.
The Convention quickly complied, and the Chair responded, “Mother Jones may carry back a message from this Convention.... Say to them our sympathies financially, morally and every other way, are with the miners.” Jones “extended hearty appreciation” for the action.
For many years in the United States, Mary Jones was the “mother” of the modern labor movement. And she arrived on the scene of many Amalgamated strikes to offer inspiration and encouragement to our members.
When she died at the age of 100, near where ATU’s international headquarters stands today, W.D. Mahon paid her an elegant tribute when he stated: “Her every heartbeat was for humanity.... She could soothe and wipe away the tears of a weeping and discouraged wife; caress and encourage children; inspire the crowd and denounce the police and Pinkertons in the same breath. Her life’s work and struggle for humanity will live and illuminate the pages of the labor history of America ....”
By 1918, 500 women were members of Local 308, and 200 were members of Local 589.
Women become members in World Wars I and II
As the men went off to fight in World War I, there began a two-year debate in The Motorman and Conductor about whether the women should be able to replace male transit workers during the war.
It was not a debate about women’s rights. It centered on protecting womanhood from barbaric and ruthless employers – the very same who oppressed the men. The suggestion by street railway companies to employ women as conductors was viewed by some as an attempt to send women back to “the days of the savages.” The magazine referred to these efforts as unpatriotic and tyrannical.
Two months later, Local 589, which had been founded with women members fighting in the strike for recognition, reported that it had adopted a resolution opposing women as conductors on the Boston elevated system because this work “degraded American womanhood.”
‘Absolutely opposed to the employment of women’
At the Fifteenth International Convention held in Providence, RI, in 1917, there was one woman delegate, Anna Dolan, from Local 308. The delegates adopted a resolution “absolutely opposed to the employment of women as motormen, brakemen, or conductors upon the street railways in the United States or Canada.” The sole dissenting vote was cast by Anna Dolan.
Shortly after the Convention, a correspondent from Local 22-Worcester, MA, reported that the newspapers in that city had begun discussing the hiring of female operators and stated that the Local Union was “solidly opposed to the idea.”
Finally, in August 1918, the General Executive Board recognized that due to the war many companies would not survive unless women were employed and adopted a policy on women. The policy stated that if it became necessary to employ women, Local Divisions would not oppose such plans as long as the employer met the following conditions:
1. Where women are employed as conductors, they shall be employed and enter the service the same as men were employed.
2. They shall take their seniority at the foot of the extra list and work up like men.
3. They shall be entitled to the same guarantees, wages and conditions as men.
4. They shall have the same membership requirements and shall be entitled to the same contract protections as men.
The position taken by the GEB in 1918 was meant only for the duration of the war. At the same time as the GEB took its position, the trade union movement, including the Amalgamated, was at the forefront of the movement to give women the right to vote, to pass 10- and 8-hour-day legislation for women workers, and to pass child labor laws.
Surprised and dismayed
After the war, labor union leaders were surprised and dismayed when the League of Women Voters argued that women should retain the conductor and motormen positions on the street railways.
As World War I came to an end, the General Executive Board passed a motion opposing legislation to employ women as operators on the transit system.
“[I]t is the sense of the Board that the Association is unalterably opposed to the enactment of any law... providing for employment of women as motormen and conductors....”
When the war ended, men mostly replaced women in the jobs they had held during World War I. Women workers on transit systems (other than in Chicago and Boston) became virtually nonexistent.
Women were again hired as transit operators in the United States and Canada during World War II, and again, mostly left the industry after the war. But, some hung on, working until their retirements decades later.
Women, again, started working as transit operators in greater numbers in the 1970s, and this time it stuck. Consequently, the number of women ATU members increased as well.
First woman international officer
In 1986, International President Jim La Sala appointed Local President Karen Moore, 1307-St. Louis, MO, the first woman international representative of ATU. Moore, an African-American, joined Local 1307 in 1970, and served as an office representative of the local members from 1976 until her election as local president in 1978. La Sala appointed Moore the first woman international vice president in 1994. She was subsequently elected and re-elected to that position until her retirement in 2006.
As more women became active in local union affairs and successfully pursued candidacies for local union office, women from ATU Local Unions began attending ATU women’s conferences. The first such conference was sponsored in 1987, by the Women’s Committee of Local 998-Milwaukee, WI. During two days of speeches and workshops, the issue of women becoming more active and involved in union affairs was stressed. At the fourth such conference, held in Cleveland, OH, in 1990, the attendees voted to form and adopted bylaws for a permanent organization – the ATU Women's Caucus.
Woman in ATU, today
Today, four women sit on the General Executive Board of ATU international vice presidents, and countless more serve as officers of ATU Local Unions.
Women have come a long way in ATU from the days when their presence behind the wheel was a matter of some controversy, and most will tell you they have a long still to go. ATU will be behind them as the battle for equality in the workplace and in society at large.