 |
 |
|
|
|
|
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
Domestic violence is the
willful intimidation, assault, battery, sexual assault, or other abusive
behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another.
It is an epidemic affecting Americans in all communities, regardless of
age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background.
One
in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime and each
year over 1200 women are killed by an intimate partner.
Homicide is the leading cause of
death for women in the workplace. Ninety
six percent of battered workers experience problems at work, fifty six percent
are late to work, twenty eight percent leave work early and fifty four percent
miss entire days of work. Intimate
partner violence victims lose nearly 8.0 million days of paid work per year –
the equivalent of more than 32,000 jobs. The lost productivity and earnings due
to intimate partner domestic violence accounts for almost $1.8 billion each
year.
CWA has effectively lead the
way in education of its leaders as well as its rank and file members by
conducting in depth training modules. Several
Districts have negotiated joint union-management training.
Some Districts and Locals have included Domestic Violence training in
their education programs. Several
Locals have grassroots programs. These
training courses and activities give CWA representatives and members the tools
and awareness to identify and assist domestic violence victims.
But additional steps must be taken to spread knowledge and heighten
awareness to our CWA family.
The impact of domestic violence
on our members, survivors, their children and the community is detrimental. CWA must continue to be a leader in the communities in which
we work and live. We must work to
protect survivors from future victimization and prevent the continuation of the
cycle of violence from generation to generation.
Action
Items:
The National Women’s
Committee calls on CWA to include Domestic Violence awareness training to the
CWA education and training programs at all levels.
Help raise awareness by
participating in Domestic Violence awareness month in October.
Work with policy advocacy
organizations to influence your state legislature to pass progressive domestic
violence laws.
Volunteer at a domestic violence shelter.