Union Organizers: The Next Generation

AFSCME Family Scholarship winners know how much their union has meant to their families. This group plans to carry that spirit of solidarity forward.

By Susan Ellen Holleran

Ever wonder where labor's future leaders are coming from? Some will emerge from the 2004 AFSCME Family Scholarship competition. The entrants understand the value of unions — and many see one in their own future. Some learned about unions over the dinner table. Day-to-day experiences shaped the perception of others.

Dahlia Raymond (daughter of New York Local 372 [DC 37] member Hadriana Raymond) describes the feeling profoundly: "I can now say with confidence that the AFSCME membership card is more than just a card; it is a way of life."

That union way of life touched all of this year's finalists. In fact, it led many to plan on adding "union activist" to their list of career goals.

Alissa Greenwald (daughter of Washington Local 1181 [Council 28] member Lynne Greenwald) envisions herself as a future AFSCME member. Reflecting on two years of experience working in a unionized grocery store, she says, "I have learned that, while anybody can become a union member, it is those members who are willing to stand up for what they believe in who make all the difference. Being an active union member means educating oneself on the issues, questioning what is not understood and uniting to oppose any form of injustice."

BORN TO BE ME. In Greensburg, Pa., Brendan Spirko (son of Patricia Spirko, Pennsylvania Local 2583 [Council 83]) plans to be a fourth-generation union member. His family tree includes Mineworkers, Steelworkers, Electrical Workers and AFSCME activists. "I look forward to joining a union such as AFSCME some day and becoming an active union participant," Brendan declares. "I am already a unionist — because this is the way I was raised and because of my own independent observations about society."

Jacqueline May Youn Min Kahan (daughter of New York DC 37 Retiree Chapter member Marilyn Kahan) plans to become a classroom teacher. "I will always be active in the teachers' union and do my part in trying to make positive changes for all children," she predicts. Jacqueline also understands the importance of political activism: "Because we are sympathetic to working families, I will always vote for candidates on the basis of their position regarding labor issues."

With future leaders like these, our unions will be in good hands.