Wave of the Future
AFSCME in the House! | Next Wave conference attendees rallied in support of Resurrection Health Care employees who have tried to form a union with AFSCME for seven years.
Photo Credit: James McCray / Hy-Sync Communications
by Gonzalo Baeza
A new crop of AFSCME activists met in Chicago this summer to share knowledge and ideas on activating young members and building the union. The event gathered more than 500 AFSCME members age 35 and under from across the country.
The event was kicked off by International Vice Presidents Lakesha Harrison (Local 3299 president) and Braulio Torres (Council 95 vice president), who conducted a boisterous roll call of attendees as each delegation took turns to scream “Presente!” and make sure everyone knew they were in the house.
During an electronic town meeting, members discussed their goals and expectations as union activists and exchanged ideas on promoting local union participation. At workshops, attendees learned how to address the media, conduct local union meetings, develop leadership skills and understand the country’s financial crisis.
“It’s important for young people to get involved with their unions and their workplace, since so many of our members are on the cusp of retiring,” said Local 433 (Council 28) member Alia Kennedy, an administrative assistant at the Office of Environmental Health Assessments, Washington State Department of Health. “We need to start mentoring people to take their place.”
Members also rallied at Resurrection Health Care’s West Suburban Medical Center in support of employees who have been trying to form a union with AFSCME for the last seven years. The event protested the corporation’s targeting of four nurses who have been leading a campaign to improve nurse-to-patient ratios at their workplace.
Back at the conference, rally participants were greeted by AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee, who urged Next Wavers to keep the labor movement strong so that AFSCME’s future will be as bright and vibrant as its past.
“I predict that one day, some of you will be up here encouraging other people 35 and under to work hard and stay connected and committed to AFSCME and labor,” McEntee said. “They will be the next ‘Next Wave.’ And you will be the teachers, the mentors, the role models.”
AFSCME Sec.-Treas. William Lucy also spoke about the importance of building new leadership.
“We cannot delegate the responsibility for building the kind of society we seek either to our full-time adversaries or to our part-time allies. We must set the agenda and continue to build the power to make it a reality,” Lucy stated.
