Union leader speaks at U.Va.

Linda Chavez-Thompson (center), executive vice president of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest union federation with 13.3 million members, met with several U.Va. women employees at a March 27 luncheon, held in Newcomb Hall cafeteria and sponsored by the Women's Center and the Labor Action Group. Seated at the table to Chavez-Thompson's left, clockwise, are: Susan Fogler, fiscal technician senior in educational technologies, Claire Kaplan, sexual assault education coordinator, Brenda Ayers of the German department, Joyce Breeden, diploma coordinator in the registrar's office, and Jan Cornell, senior assistant to the associate deans of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Chavez-Thompson also spoke to students and other activists at Campbell Hall that night. The 55-year-old daughter of a farm hand, who went to work in a Texas cotton plantation at age 10, Chavez-Thompson invited students to join the union movement and fight for a just society. Her remedies for improving workers' conditions include a higher minimum wage, access to health care and affordable child care, a big expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, education and training.

Chavez-Thompson's speech was part of the Women Center's series, "Women 2000: Shapers of the World," celebrating its 10th anniversary, the 20th anniversary of the University's Studies in Women and Gender program, and the 30th anniversary of full coeducation at U.Va.