Last year the gathering drew about 50 people. It was stamped by the large turnout of women miners employed at coal mines in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah.

“IUOE Local 953 and the Ethics Committee have been proactive in addressing gender inequality, discrimination and harassment in the work place, and we are asking that you join us in sponsoring this very informative and important conference,” said Local 953 president Wars Peterman, in a letter that is being circulated among unionists in the West.

The conference will begin with a dinner on Sunday evening, April 23, at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Farmington, organizers said.

At last year’s conference, participants exchanged experiences of working through their unions to fight against discrimination and sexual harassment on the job. Many of the miners who attended said the event was an important boost for them and they would work to make the next one even more successful.

This year the conference is being held at the San Juan College in Farmington. There have been several planning meetings. On March 10 a Navajo taco sale was organized at the Local 953 hall to raise funds for bringing in speakers.

Lois Jensen, a former iron ore miner who won a landmark sexual harassment lawsuit against the Eveleth mine in northern Minnesota will be a keynote speaker. Jensen’s struggle was depicted in the recently released movie North Country.

For further information or to donate to the effort contact Rosie Kellywood at 2wrfoster@advantes.net or Wars Peterman at Wars953@yahoo.com. Those interested can also make inquiries or donations by mail to IUOE Local 953, P.O. Box 2127, Kirtland, NM 87417. Tel: (505) 330-6594.
 
 
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