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What Do You See:. 1891 or 2013?. Rapidly changing and growing economy N ew technologies and emerging industries replacing old system W orkforce with new demographics Transient workforce enabled by mobility Huge concentration of wealth at the top Working people turning on each other
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1891 or 2013? • Rapidly changing and growing economy • New technologies and emerging industries replacing old system • Workforce with new demographics • Transient workforce enabled by mobility • Huge concentration of wealth at the top • Working people turning on each other • Greed’s Momentum Being Questioned
Why the NBEW • Mortality Rate at 50% • 80 Hour Weeks • No Federal Laws • Few, if any, Friends in High Places • A Willingness and Energy to Fight Back
What The Founders Did • What were these early leaders able to accomplish? • In 1891 the NBEW was constituted at our inaugural convention with 10 Delegates representing 286 workers in eight cities. • The second convention, held in 1892 had delegates representing 43 separate local unions and 2,000 total members. • By 1919 the IBEW and its local unions represented over 148,000 workers in many branches of the electrical industry.
Young Workers Often Led the Way • The Founders, all in their 20s and early 30s, crafted a message of hope and opportunity. • Dynamic IBEW Leaders like Julia O’Connor and Ron Weakley picked up their message in their 20s and amplified it. • They all knew that to be successful, we had to think creatively and be bigger than organized greed.
Young Workers Can Lead Again • In the Battle Over Public Employee Collective Bargaining in Wisconsin, which Age Groups Most Supported the Unions? • 18-29, 30-49, 50-64, or 65+?
My Generation… • The “millennial” generation is the most educated and inclusive generation in history. • By in large we grew up with an open and tolerant view of the world because of the history before us. • We are also the first collaborative generation since the Great Depression and that generation was the one that fought our way into the middle class. • Have Legitimate Anger Toward Status Quo
Our Message Resonates with Young People • Declaration of the IBEW Our cause is the cause of human justice, human rights, human security…. • Objects of the IBEW To organize all workers in the entire electrical industry in the United States and Canada, including all of those in public utilities and electrical manufacturing… … to elevate the moral, intellectual and social conditions of our members, their families and dependents in the interest of a higher standard of citizenship.
It Starts With Our Members • External Organizing • Practical Tools • Internal Organizing and Mentoring
External Organizing • Utilize Young Members in M2M/M2FM • MDVOC: Their peers are being most hurt • Community Engagement • Build Coalitions • Build Upon Their Collaborative Spirit
Practical Tools • AFL-CIO has a lot of resources • IBEW Locals Throughout US and Canada Have Young Worker Groups • Build Volunteerism into Apprenticeship • Create Opportunities and Seek Out Success
Internal Organizing • More than Anything, our young members Need and Want Mentors. • Seek out Young Members and Create Opportunity for Meaningful Involvement. • Pass Down Our Proud Heritage. • Ask.