Woman breaks ground at Coke plant

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_8294422

Labao first female elected chief shop steward at San Leandro site
By Martin Ricard, STAFF WRITER
Article Created: 02/18/2008 02:31:38 AM PST

SAN LEANDRO — In a man's world, Deborah Labao is loving her new role.

That's because, in a small way, she has done something no other woman has done before at the Coca-Cola bottling plant at 14655 Wicks Blvd.

Labao, 45, of Castro Valley has become the first woman to be elected chief shop steward for the union representing workers at the plant, Teamsters Local 896 — a first in the union's 43-year history at Coca-Cola.


Deborah Labao, 45 is the 1st ever elected union chief shop steward at San Leandro's Coke plant. Deborah has been a Coke employee for 5 years, and was just elected as chief steward last month. (Mike Lucia/Daily Review)


Basically, "I have to go to more meetings. I have a lot more responsibility," said Labao, the mother of three children ages 26, 23 and 16. "But the type of person I am, I can handle it."

Men continue to hold the majority of labor union ranks, but women have been steadily gaining, although many are still concentrated in a few unions, experts say.

Sharon Cornu, executive secretary-treasurer for the Central Labor Council of Alameda County, said she recently has seen "an explosion" of more women and people of color taking leadership roles in labor unions.

FULL story at link.

[Oceansaway]

1. TOUCHE !!..n/t

[keep_it_real]

2. Cool

[LiberalFighter]

3. What is a chief steward?

Are chief stewards the top bargainers in the local? What is the structure in that local?