Making Waves

Organizing Today to Lead Tomorrow

Recognizing that the future strength of AFSCME rests in their hands, Generation X members have begun meeting informally to form a new group — one that will boost activism and develop leadership skills among those 35 and under, and infuse the labor movement with fresh energy.

“Many of AFSCME’s members — about 30 percent — will be retiring in 10 years,” says Natasha Pranger, 32, a member of Local 304 (Council 28) and a Washington state forensic scientist. “Our challenge is to gather the collective wisdom and experience of our brothers and sisters, and get the younger ones actively engaged in building power in our unions.”

To address these issues, Pranger — and 31 of her peers from across the country — met one weekend in May at the National Labor College, just outside Washington, D.C. Calling themselves the “Next Wave,” they started developing a tool kit that affiliates can use to reach out to under-35 members. The kit includes such topics as recruitment, relevance, image/identity and culture, technology,political action and education.

A work in progress, the kit will be updated regularly. Other Next Wavers, who comprise 11 percent of AFSCME, are being encouraged to add their own ideas. The materials will be made available at the International Convention in July.

“I’m really excited about what we as Next Wavers can do to strengthen our union,” says Cornelia Lee, a senior therapist at the North Jersey Developmental Center and a member of Local 2211 (Council 52). “We are, after all, the future of the labor movement.”

We Are the Future – Participants from all across the country came to the first-ever “Next Wave” conference near Washington, D.C. Photo: Luis Gómez