To mark International Women’s Day, 1199SEIU rolled out the red carpet for working women on March 13. And at the-Union hosted Red Carpet for Social Justice, 27 women - a combination of union rank-and-filers and staff members - walked down that carpet representing the working women of the world. Some danced, some read poetry and others spoke for social justice.



The event was held in the auditorium of 1199SEIU’s Manhattan headquarters and sponsored by the International Women’s Day Coalition, a group of unions and community organizations which included 1199SEIU, the New York State Nurses Association, AFSCME’s District Council 37 and the Healthcare Education Project. The events colors were pink purple and red, reminders of the ongoing battles against breast cancer, heart disease and violence against women.



“The goal of this evening,” said 1199SEIU organizer in welcoming attendees Kim Gooden, “is to launch and declare 2016 the Year of the Woman.”



The evening’s keynote speaker was Letitia James, Public Advocate for the City of New York, who expressed pride in sharing a room with so many dedicated Union women.



“When you want to stand for social justice you have to stand with the purple army – 1199,” she said. James went to remind the audience that it was critical they care for themselves, not just others, with regular screenings for breast cancer, and by looking after their emotional health. Services for women and girls were a paramount concern, she said.



After James’ remarks, guests were treated to the International Women’s Red Carpet for Social Justice, a pageant of traditional dress and music featuring members and staff. Saba Ashraf a home health aide with Sunnyside Homecare representing her home country of Pakistan, Lutheran Hospital’s Kathleen Najab walked the carpet for her home of Guayana and Angelika Kogan, a home health aide with the Far Rockaway Agency danced a traditional Uzbek dance.



Presented after the Red Carpet were the Annual Audrey Smith Campbell Awards, named for the late delegate from Kingsbridge Nursing Home who died after going without her asthma medication during a contentious strike there. The awards are presented each year to women for their outstanding contribution and dedication to the labor movement and social justice. This year’s recipients were RN Cheryl Powell, a member of NYSNA; 1199SEIU Homecare Division organizer Sheron Whitter -Blake; Bonita Savage, coordinator of 1199SEIU’s Bread and Roses Cultural program and 1199SEIU retiree Claudette Colvin, who - months before Rose Parks - refused give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated Montgomery, AL bus.



Another of the evening highlights was a performance of the original song “Love Hurts” by 1199SEIU delegate Dawna Durham from Absolut Nursing and Rehabilitation at Orchard Park near Buffalo, NY. Durham, a CNA, wrote and produced the song about domestic violence and abusive relationships. Durham’s performance received a standing ovation.



“I’d been involved in domestic violence – verbal, emotional, and financial. Imagine being chased by a car by a man who is supposed to love you and when he catches you he punches you,” she explained in her introduction to the song. “Or your best friend calls and says she’s scared and she’s bleeding, but she never made it out. That’s why I wrote this song. For my best friend, Angie. Please find a way out. I know it’s not that easy.”



After the awards and performances, guests were treated to dinner, which was served by the men of 1199SEIU’s staff – in honor of 1199SEIU’s women.