Book Launch Party For “High Voltage Women: Breaking Barriers at Seattle City Light” This Saturday

Radical Women will host a Women’s History Month salute to writer and labor historian Ellie Belew on the release of her new book, “High Voltage Women: Breaking Barriers at Seattle City Light” this Saturday, March 9th at the Washington State Labor Council Building, 321 16^th Ave. South. 

“High Voltage Women” follows the lives of 10 women who broke the glass ceiling at Seattle City Light, the municipal power company, in the 1970s and got work in the long male dominated electrical trades. 

Joining Ellie Belew at the event will be one of the women featured in the book, Megan Cornish, one of the pioneers at City Light. 

From the press release:

A compelling account of pioneering electrical tradeswomen whose fight for affirmative action and against job harassment changed their workplace, their union, and their city. Radical Women is incredibly proud of the role played by our founder Clara Fraser and other members in an effort that began in the 1970s and continues today. The book shows how tradeswomen built alliances with men of color, white male union members and office staff to change the culture of management abuse and life-threatening sexism and racism at Seattle City Light.

“This amazing story gives hope and inspiration to women in every workplace.” — Louis Walter, Business Manager, IBEW Local #77

Meet author Ellie Belew and City Light groundbreaker Megan Cornish

No-Host Bar – Refreshments $5-10 donation

Washington State Labor Council Building
321 16th Ave. S., Seattle

Sponsored by: Radical Women, Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, Labor Archives of Washington, Seattle Silence Breakers, Washington Women in Trades

High Voltage Women is published by
Red Letter Press
$20.00 – 224 pages – photos, index, notes
Books go on sale March 1
Order at www.RedLetterPress.org