Women’s History Month: Josephine Casey, an ATU trailblazer
Women’s History Month: Josephine Casey, ATU’s first female local officer and convention delegate
As the correspondent for Local 308-Chicago, IL, correctly noted in the March 1904 issue of The Motorman and Conductor, “[T]he only active lady membership of our association is enrolled upon the roster of 308.” Indeed, the first women members did come from Local 308, which was organized in 1902 to represent the employees of the Chicago Elevated Service. In addition to operating crews, track crews and maintenance employees, the work force included station agents who were primarily women.
One of these women was a labor organizer and women’s rights advocate, Josephine Casey. She was a trailblazer for women in the ATU.