On February 12, the Jobs with Justice National Conference in Washington, DC kicked off with an energetic and inspiring networking breakfast for women in labor and community organizations. More than 100 women networked and heard from labor leaders about opportunities in 2016 to bolster collective power for women workers.
Rutgers SMLR Professor and Center for Innovation in Worker Organization (CIWO) Director Marilyn Sneiderman emceed the event. Featured speakers were the newly elected secretary-treasurer of the United Food and Commercial Workers Esther Lopez and Rutgers Associate Professor of History Donna Murch. Lopez highlighted the necessity of integrating race, gender and ethnicity in the changing labor movement. Professor Donna Murch addressed the relationship between racial and economic justice and the role of women leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement.
The event was organized by Director and Professor Sneiderman, Rutgers Center for Innovation in Worker Organization 
Senior Program and Communications Advisor Marjorie Wood, Jobs with Justice Research Director Erin Johansson, and Teamsters Deputy Director of Research Cassandra Ogren. The breakfast was sponsored by the Berger-Marks Foundation.
At the conclusion of the event, attendees were invited to share their thoughts on a potential mentor matching program and the opportunity to be a mentor or mentee. 
ABOUT:
The Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations’ Center for Innovation in Worker Organization (CIWO) addresses our nation’s rising economic inequality, precarious workforce, and racial inequality by developing innovative research, strategies and programs.
Through our work, we aim to strengthen the role of civil institutions including community organizations, worker centers, and labor unions.
