9 to 5, National Association of Working Women (U.S.)

9 to 5: Organization for Women Office Workers was founded in Boston in 1972 by Ellen Cassedy and Karen Nussbaum. In 1977 several affiliated groups, including Boston 9 to 5, sponsored the formation of a national group, Working Women, with headquarters in Cleveland. In 1983 the national organization changed its name to 9 to 5, National Association of Working Women. By means of publicity, conferences, affirmative action campaigns, and job and wage surveys, the organization has worked to improve conditions for women employed by banks, publishing houses, insurance companies, colleges and universities, and other major employers. Besides affirmative action and equal pay, important issues include the status of minority women, age discrimination, and "re-entry" for displaced homemakers.

From the guide to the Records, 1972-1980, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

From the guide to the Additional records, 1972-1986, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

9 to 5: Organization for Women Office Workers was founded in Boston in 1972 by Ellen Cassedy and Karen Nussbaum. In 1977 several affiliated groups, including Boston 9 to 5, sponsored the formation of a national group, Working Women, with headquarters in Cleveland. In 1983 the national organization changed its name to 9 to 5, National Association of Working Women. By means of publicity, conferences, affirmative action campaigns, and job and wage surveys, the organization has worked to improve conditions for women employed by banks, publishing houses, insurance companies, colleges and universities, and other major employers. Besides affirmative action and equal pay, important issues include the status of minority women, age discrimination, health and safety concerns relating to office automation, and "re-entry" for displaced homemakers.

From the description of [Videotape collection] [videorecording]. 1978-1980. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122357595

From the description of Records, 1972-1980 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 539584974

From the description of Additional records, 1972-1986 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 539584975

From the description of Records, 1972-1986 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232008445

9 to 5: Organization for Women Office Workers was founded in Boston in 1972 by Ellen Cassedy (EC) and Karen Nussbaum (KN), then secretaries at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. EC and KN issued a newsletter, The 9 to 5 News, and met with a small group of interested women. In 1973 the organization acquired an office, at the headquarters of the Boston YWCA (140 Clarendon Street), and published a "Bill of Rights" for women office workers. In early 1974, the first monthly meeting was held; nearly 300 women attended.

In its early years, 9 to 5 organized its activities by industry. Its original five committees waged specific campaigns for women in banking, insurance, publishing, temporary secretarial jobs, and universities. Major victories included a $1.5 million back-pay suit won against three Boston-area publishers.

Some industry-based campaigns, targeted against specific employers such as Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, continued into the mid 1980s.

As the organization grew in the 1970s, a second, issue-based strategy developed. A committee might focus on equal employment opportunity issues or on grant-funded career development and education projects. Each issue-based committee might pursue projects involving several different industries simultaneously, while in turn an employer-targeted campaign might receive aid from several different committees. The campaign against the John Hancock Insurance Company, for example, involved the Campaign, Health and Safety, and National Secretaries' Day-as well as Insurance-committees.

Paid staff grew along with committees. The Executive Board, composed of members who chaired committees, hired the staff director, who in turn hired other staff. Staff directors included EC to1979; Joan Quinlan, 1979-1982; and Pat Reeve, 1982-1984. As of 1977 there were four "permanent staff"; as of 1979, there were six, including staff director, fundraiser, organizers, and office manager. The chapter also sponsored a canvass, in the mid 80's staffed by a canvass director, canvass office manager, and part- and full-time canvassers, whose numbers fluctuated according to season. Interns, paid and unpaid, came from a variety of sources.

The organization grew significantly on a national level in its first decade. In the mid 1970s, "sister" clerical worker organizations emerged in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and other cities. In 1977, several affiliated groups, including Boston 9 to 5, sponsored the formation of a national group, Working Women, with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1978, KN became its director. In 1983, the national organization changed its name to 9 to 5: National Association of Women Office Workers. In 1975, a union affiliate, District 925, had been formed in Boston; in 1981, this local became part of the Service Employees International Union.

Links between national and local groups of the organization were very strong. The national coordinated certain campaigns, such as Project Health and Safety; in turn, a certain percentage of fundraising proceeds was sent from local to national offices. The Boston office housed both the local chapter and the East Coast headquarters; staff, however, were entirely separate. The Boston staff also worked directly with other chapters, such as Chicago's Women Employed.

Funds for Boston 9 to 5 have come from membership dues, fundraising events, the canvass, and foundations. In the early 1980s, due to the loss of much of its grant income and other financial crises, the chapter could no longer afford paid staff. In 1982, the lease at 140 Clarendon Street was not renewed, and 9 to 5 moved its office to Temple Place. In 1985 this office had to be closed for financial reasons. As of the summer of 1987 the chapter, staffed by volunteers only, shared offices with District 925.

For further background on 9 to 5, see #293 and 734.

From the guide to the Additional records, 1972-1985, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)