NFFE Celebrates Women’s Equality Day

As seen on nffe.org

On Women’s Equality Day, Americans reflect on the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which secured women the right to vote. But for working women, the fight for equality has always extended far beyond the ballot box – into the workplace, the union hall and on the bargaining table.

Women have always been central to the labor movement, both as organizers and as a backbone of workplace advocacy. The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) has deep ties to women’s rights.

In the early 20th century, NFFE leaders were outspoken supporters of the suffrage movement, recognizing that political equality was inseparable from workplace equality. Their support helped build momentum for women who were fighting not just for a voice in democracy, but also for dignity and fairness on the job, especially in labor which is a male-dominated field.

And, this is not an outdated issue. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women still earn about 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, with the gap even wider for women of color. Union support remains one of the most powerful tools for closing that divide, providing transparent pay scales, grievance procedures and protections for women against discrimination. Women in NFFE are proving that every day – by leading locals, advocating for fairness and ensuring the next generation of union members inherits a more equitable workplace so that the labor space is better when they leave it than when they arrived.