LETTERS

Dear friends,

For four and one half years I've been privileged to write for WSW and participate with members of this hard-working collective. In the past two years I've managed to juggle working, college, political work and being a parent. As I became more involved, I also began to see how important it is for women to form coalitions. Various issues need to be linked because in reality they are connected. In the past few months, however, the number of meetings which 1 had to attend began to compromise my salaried working schedule a very flexible one that can be altered at will. I was not working often enough to contribute sufficiently to our family income and pay for my exploding tuition costs.

It would be both terrific and sensible if all women's political work could be financially legitimized. WSW, of course, is in no position to help me assume my personal financial responsibilities. Therefore, I am taking an extended, temporary leave of absence from the WSW collective, so that I may work for money, more often. There is certainly no ideological conflict with WSW at the root of this decision. I hope to continue my involvements and my writing, but do so more carefully and thoughtfully, so that other needs are not totally compromised.

Thanks for listening, Carol Epstein

P.S.-According to a study financed by the National Science Foundation (Plain Dealer, Dec. 7, 1980), women are beginning to tap their resources and gain a sense of control over the direction of their lives. The authors of the article strongly conclude

that this "heightened sense of self-esteem" does not emerge from "some innate psychological mechanism," but rather from the sweat and labor of organized, active feminists. From the most obvious forms of social engagement with the world to the more subtle modes of feeling and thinking, women's lives in general have been quickened and infused with great life from the women's movement: "The conclusion is inescapable that women are the beneficiaries of a new social climate that has been created in large measure by the series of events, ideas and ideologies known collectively as the women's movement."

The survey, however, makes it clear that most women fail to make the political connection, e.g., they believe that the women's movement has not had a personal impact on their lives even when the raw facts suggest that the opposite is true: "This disinclination to think politically, to understand how the gains made by women as a group in courts of law or legislatures impinge on individual lives, may explain the failure of so many women to respond with enthusiasm to the equal rights amendment." The "disinclination to think politically", as the authors put it, means taking the benefits of the women's movement while at the same time taking the movement for granted. This is a tendency which WSW has persistently pointed out and for which WSW has attempted to provide alternatives for thought and action. As one accustomed to being on the receiving end of the editorial process, I ask that you take WSW, another example of women's unpaid labor, seriously. The cost of a subscription remains minimal, and if you are reading without subscribing, you aren't seriously supporting WSW.

My Dearest Women's Community,

I wish there was a way to wrap my arms around you all to acknowledge each of your individual actions to support and love me following my car acci-

CWW Reports on Office Hazards

By Loretta Feller

National studies indicate that clerical work is the second most stressful occupation in the U.S., following the job of laborer. The results of Cleveland Women Working's (CWW) Health and Safety Survey for Women Office Workers, which were presented at their December meeting, tended to confirm this finding. The survey was funded by a grant to CWW from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In a three-month period; 10,000 copies of the survey were. distributed in downtown Cleveland. The results helped to document office health hazards in five categories: stress, air quality and ventilation, office environment, of•fice machines, and job-related health.

Seventy percent of those answering the survey rated their jobs as somewhat or very stressful. The reasons most often cited for the stress were lack of promotional opportunities or raises (52 percent) and low pay (49.5 percent). Surprisingly, few women reported problems juggling work schedules with responsibilities at home, indicating instead that the quality of the work itself created the greatest stress in their lives...

Survey results indicated the need for more research in the area of air quality and ventilation. Seventy-five percent of the respondents indicated that the supply of fresh air in their offices was inadequate, thus exposing them to air filled with cigarette smoke, fumes, dust, and toxic exhaust from office machines.

Office environment problems included crowding, inadequate rest areas or lunchrooms, noise, poor lighting, and chairs which were uncomfortable or caused backstrain. One-third of those responding to the survey indicated they use a CRT (cathode-raytube or video-display terminal) on their jobs. The most frequently mentioned health problem from the

1981

CRT was eyestrain, although any health problem arising from the low-level radiation emitted by the machines may not be immediately recognizable.

One out of three office workers responded that their health deteriorated at their present job. Over half experienced headaches and eyestrain as a result of their jobs, and one-third said that job-related health problems caused them to lose time from work. Some women office workers attending the meeting discussed their intentions to file Workers Compensation claims; at least one successful claim was mentioned in which a woman filed against her employer, a group of attorneys, after suffering from harassment and an excessive work load,

As a follow-up to the survey, CWW plans to meet with OSHA officials and employers to push for specific changes. Also, CWW will educate the public about health hazards on the job, and will encourage more research to determine the extent to which these hazards should be regulated and standards developed. CWW is currently helping to circulate petitions in opposition to the Schweiker-Williams "Occupational Safety and Health Improvement Act of 1980" (S. 2153) which would severely restrict OSHA's regulatory and enforcement powers in the workplace. This bill would take away workers' right to an automatic safety inspection when a complaint is filed, would limit the scope of OSHA inspection, and would cut out most OSHA safety inspections in nine out of ten workplaces. For more information on S. 2153, contact CWW at 566-8511 or the North East Ohio Committee on Occupational Safety and Health at 932-9344.

-Information excerpted from CWW's "A Report on Health and Safety Hazards of the Office Environment”

dent in early November. While physically isolated in a Colorado hospital I was overwhelmed by the bridging strength of the Cleveland Community. I credit my speedy mending and recovery process to your caring and healing energy that my body converted into knitting my bones. Thank you.

Many of you translated your sense of community into sharing your money to cover the expenses for a team of women to transport me home in what seemed to be a magic fleet (a borrowed van). More thanks! It is apparent that there are instances when we need to help each other in practical ways of time, care or money-a community chest or perhaps a women's community breast. I for one can be counted on to assist you as you have so generously and lovingly assisted me. -Wegi

Dear WSW,

In view of the recent elections and the impending recession, I as a feminist have some heartfelt concerns about the adverse climate for women. These unfavorable circumstances have compelled me to reevaluate what is being done to enhance positive changes for women. To my amazement and joy, I have found the efforts and accomplishments of many women's organizations to be numerous and hopeful.

Organizations such as WomenSpace, the impetus for such conferences as "Women at Work" where for the first time corporate people have come and are at least interested in the issues of working women, are to be commended. The new non-traditional job project was originated by WomenSpace. It is a new approach which attacks barriers rather than putting the total responsibility on women. The emphasis will be put on such organizations as unions, employment services and companies to clean up their sexist attitudes. WomenSpace is also instrumental in having women who have been angry about the movement to rescind the ERA in different states come together and form new coalitions which emphasize women's commonality rather than differences. Additionally, it has been influential in getting more people interested and concerned about the viability of specific local women's projects.

Another group, Cleveland Women Working, has been tremendously influential and persuasive in getting appropriate media coverage for the plight of women with its annual awards for Pettiest Office Procedure, Scrooge of the Year, and Second Hand Rose. Its suits against the banks have had a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of women. And finally, triumphantly, it has been the force which started the movement of women office

workers to unite and work together to improve their wages, status and working environments. of The Women's Growth Coop is another group courageous women who are involved in counseling and implementing groups for women. These groups range from growth groups, to divorce and lesbian support groups, to creative art communication groups. They offer an invaluable service to women. Obviously this letter would not be published if it weren't for the diligent and creative staff of What She Wants. Many issues and concerns of women would not be addressed without their efforts. Yes, I do have hope.

-Maureen Wells