The following letter was distributed to thousands of women at the pro-reproductive rights march and rally on Aug. 28 in New York.

Why do women need to participate in the MILLION WORKER MARCH on Oct. 17 in Washington, D.C.?

Because we are workers and we deserve pay equity, health care, child care and more. ...

Because ... women need to be paid for the value we produce. We continue to be paid less than men (on average 22 percent less in 2002) and face other forms of discrimination on the job. Sexism and racism help the boss get richer at our expense and often keep us divided. We seek to end all forms of discrimination in the work place and in our communities.

Because ... women, especially single mothers and immigrants, need jobs that pay a national living wage, like $15 an hour, so we can adequately support our families and put an end to poverty once and for all. We affirm that a job is a human right.

Because ... women need to organize and belong to unions. Women workers, especially women workers of color, are the larg est sector of workers demanding the right to unionize, though their rights are being violated on a daily basis by the bosses who spend millions of dollars to prevent unionization and to bust the unions that exist. We affirm that the right to work, the right to organize, and the right to join unions are human rights.

Because ... women need a national universal single-payer health-care system that guarantees health care is a right of all people from cradle to grave. Women need the full range of reproductive services, including birth control, abortion on demand, and Ob-Gyn coverage.

Because ... women need fully subsidized, community-controlled child care so they can work without worrying about the safety, health and educational needs of their children.

Because ... women need the right to same-sex marriage in every state, unbiased child custody rulings, and the freedom to work and live openly and safely as lesbians, bisexuals, and trans people.

Because ... women need our tax dollars to be spent not on war but on life-affirming quality education and schools, affordable housing and community services that meet the needs of everyone from the very young to the very old. Women, children and the aged are forced to bear the brunt of the budget cuts while the Pentagon feeds off the gravy train. We need to bring all U.S. troops home now, defend the civil rights of all people, especially Arabs, Muslims and immigrants, and stop the fearmongering and scapegoating.

Because ... women need to make sure our demands are heard loud and clear in the fight-back movement. We need to unite with all workers to send the corporate bosses a strong message: We don't like the way you're running things. We need real power over the decisions that affect our lives.

Women have been playing a crucial, leading role in organizing the Million Worker March. We invite you to join us in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 17.

In solidarity,

Brenda Stokely
President, AFSCME District Council 1707; New York Regional Co-Convener of Million Worker March

Sharon Black Ceci
Steward, UFCW Local 27; Baltimore/ Washing ton, D.C. Coordinator of MWM

Pam Parker
AFM Local 1000; Baltimore/Washington, D.C. Outreach Coordinator MWM

Teresa Gutierrez
Co-Director, International Action Center

Monica Moorehead
Coordinator, Millions for Mumia

Nellie Hester Bailey
Harlem Tenants Council

Dorothea Peacock
Bd. Dir., Women's Fightback Network, Boston

Susan E. Davis
Second Vice President, National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981

Michelle Quintus
Council 5 Representative, AFA-CWA

Ojette Brundage & Emelyn Tapaoan
Co-Organizers, March 2004 NYC Women's Fightback Conference

Julie Fry
Organizer, Youth 4 the MWM

Leslie Feinberg
LGBT Caucus Steering Committee, National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981

For more information, contact:

Local Contact:
Women's Fightback Network
284 Amory St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 * 617-522-6626
wfn@iacboston.org

National Office:
Women 4 the Million Worker March
39 W. 14 St.#206, NY, NY 10011 * 212.633.6646
women4MWM@action-mail.org@action-mail.org