Each year, the CFL recognizes and celebrates the important contributions of women to the Chicago labor movement by awarding the Rosetta Daylie Woman of the Year award to an outstanding woman.

This year, we are proud to recognize Helen Chung (Painter’s District Council #14) as the 2025 Woman of the Year.

The CFL will accept nominations for the Woman of the Year from April 1 to October 15. To nominate a deserving woman, complete the CFL’s nomination form.

Click here for the nomination form

To qualify, the nominee must be active in their union as a member in good standing or as part of the union’s retiree program within the last 12 months.

History of the Award

The CFL honored Joyce Miller, the first woman to be elected to the executive board of the national AFL-CIO, as its first Woman of the Year in 1982. Since then, the annual award has recognized some of the most iconic women across the movement. All our awardees have fought vigorously for social and economic justice for women in the workplace, striving for equity and fairness.

The award was named after longtime CFL Delegate and current CFL First Vice President Rosetta Daylie to honor her seven decades of work in the Chicago labor movement.

About Rosette Daylie

Rosetta Daylie was the first Black woman elected to the Executive Board of the Chicago Federation of Labor in 1990 and has been a fixture of the organization ever since. Her seven decades in the labor movement have been guided by the principles of dignity, respect and justice she learned from the strong women and men in her life, including her formerly enslaved great-great grandmother, who lived to be 102. Daylie believes her mission on this earth is to defend the rights of people whenever and wherever they are threatened–whether it be voting rights, workers’ rights or basic human rights.

Past Recipients

YearNameUnion
1982Joyce MillerAmalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers
1983Addie WyattUFCW
1984Clara DayInternational Brotherhood of Teamsters
1985Jacqueline VaughnChicago Teachers Union, AFT Local 1
1986Gwendolyn R. MartinCommunications Workers of America
1987Mollie L. WestChicago Typographical Union
1988LaVerne HawesCommunication Workers of America
1989Johnnie JacksonInternational Ladies Garment Workers Union
1990Rosetta DaylieAFSCME Council 31
1991Helen RamirezChicago Teachers Union, AFT Local 1
1992Katie JordanAmalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union
1993Elena MarcheschiUnited Scenic Artists, Painters Union
1994Margaret BlackshereIllinois AFL-CIO
1995Jerre McPartlinHotel and Restaurant Employees, Local 1
1996Linda Chavez-ThompsonAFL-CIO
1997Jane FitzgeraldAFSCME
1998Geri SheltonInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
1999Cynthia RodriguezService Employees International Union
2000Kina McAfeeChicago & Northeast IL District Council of Carpenters
2001Norma WhiteChicago Teachers Union, AFT Local 1
2002Lynn TalbottUNITE, Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board
2003Mary CraytonAFL-CIO Region 1
2004Deborah LynchChicago Teachers Union, AFT Local 1
2005Ann FrisonCFL, AFL-CIO Community Services
2006Eileen WillenborgAFTRA/SAG
2007Esther LopezUnited Food & Commercial Workers
2008Marilyn StewartChicago Teachers Union, AFT Local 1
2009Terryl JaresChicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208
2010Dorothy JamesAFGE District 7
2011Margarita KleinWorkers United, Chicago Midwest Regional Joint Board
2012Patricia OusleyAFSCME Local 1006
2013Carol JamesLiUNA, Local 1092
2014Karen GJ LewisChicago Teachers Union, AFT Local 1
2015Jane RussellWest Suburban Teachers Union, AFT Local 571
2016Jaquie AlgeeSEIU Healthcare
2017Rona Pileggi SpanoOPEIU Local 277
2018Mamie PrattUFCW Local 881
2019Karen KentUNITE HERE Local 1
2020Elise FosterNALC Branch 11
2021Carole PollitzIBEW Local 134
2022Alma WashingtonActors’ Equity Association / SAG-AFTRA
2023Kathy HanshewCMRJB, Workers United
2024Sadea NorfleetUAW Local 551
2025Helen ChungPainter’s District Council #14