Alicia Backus 1969 -2011 “Skywalker”

Chicago and the tradeswomen’s community have lost one of its rock stars. Alicia Backus was one of the elite – a journey-level ironworker from Local Union 1 here in Chicago. Alicia was an extraordinarily radiant personality, a person so full of life and joy that you…

By Karen J. See, President

Posted by SITT-UN! January 10, 2012

Women are under attack in this country like we haven’t seen in a hundred years. There are attempts to keep us from voting by passing restrictive voter suppression laws. There are attempts to outlaw birth control. Women still make only $.77 for every dollar a man makes. Women are disproportionately affected by the economic down fall and not seeing the recovery. Congress seems to be at war…

Courage is a gift that is given from the strenghts that have been bestowed upon onself from GOD.  It is not something that we acquire on our own, but something that we are here to do.

I thank all the women that have laid the bricks to the road of success for all union workers, including myself.  It is not what we can achieve, it is what we are to…

Photo: Provided: This 14-inch clay model represents a work-in-progress by Mendota artist William "Bill" Piller for a proposed life-size monument of an Ottawa Radium Dial worker. He and his teenage daughter, Madeline, have been seeking donations to erect the statute in honor the women who died decades ago…