Submitted by Amanda Montgomery on Fri, 02/15/2008 - 4:57pm. Young Union Leaders Attend Massachusetts AFL-CIO Inaugural Futures Convention Young union leaders from affiliates of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO met at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Natick February 8th-February 9th for the inaugural Futures Convention. The union leaders were approximately age 35 and under. The goal of the Futures Convention was to begin to create a community of young members in the Massachusetts Labor Movement and cultivate the next generation of labor leaders. The conference kicked off with an inspiring speech by President Robert J. Haynes who shared his personal story of how he became committed to the Labor Movement after working a number of union jobs while growing up in Cambridge. He called on participants to take full advantage of the weekend, saying it was now time for them to take this Labor Movement forward. Delegates were also joined by Stewart Acuff, the Director of Organizing of the AFL-CIO, who delivered an inspiring speech calling on young labor leaders to take on the difficult task of fighting for working families. He urged all to get involved in the 2008 election year to fight for health care, jobs, the right to organize and economic and retirement security; and said unions must organize and mobilize to win back the White House and increase pro-worker majorities in the U.S. Congress. Mr. Acuff stated he was humbled by the fact that, unless things change drastically, his generation may be the first in U.S. history to leave the economy and the country as a whole in worse shape than they found it. Stewart Acuff passionately urged the young leaders to reverse that course and take ownership of the Labor Movement and the country. Senator John Kerry then joined the room and spoke of the importance of the Labor Movement in the United States. He urged the young union members to fight for important issues with all the strength, organization and passion they could muster. The Senator promised to fight for union members and working families in the U.S. Senate, vowing to work to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Senator Kerry stressed the right to organize as an important way to raise stagnant wages in this country and combat the increasing polarization of wealth in this country. A panel of former members of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO’s Frontlash program from the late 1980s shared how they became involved in the Labor Movement. Each member of the panel was either currently a labor leader, or holds a prominent position in government or public office. The panel consisted of Director of Labor George Noel, the former Business Manager of IBEW Local 1505, Steve Sullivan, Government Affairs and Organizing Director of Teamsters Local 25, Bob Bower, Political Director of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Bill Corley, Organizer at IBEW Local 103, Senator Steven Tolman from the Transportation Communication Union, and Rich Rogers, principle officer of the Greater Boston Labor Council. Senator Steven Tolman called on the young union leaders to consider running for local office, stressing the difference it makes when working families have legislative officers who carry a union card in their back pocket. The Futures Convention then turned to young leaders of the Labor Movement today. Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray spoke and fielded questions, and Teamsters Local 25 President Sean O’Brien shared his personal story of how he came to be President at a young age. A panel of young leaders including Ray Beaudry of Plumbers Local 4, Rich Couture of AFGE Local 264, Jen Springer of AFSCME Council 93, Allison Doherty-LaCasse of the Boston Teachers Union, and Lisa Field of AFSCME Local 1067 also shared their stories of how they became union leaders. After the panels, participants broke out into groups organized by sector, and then groups of mixed sectors. The break-out groups were a chance to get to know members from other unions, and begin to develop a better understanding of the struggles we all face. The discussions were enlightening and participants began to feel a sense of community after the break-out groups. The next day began with an address by Ed Kelly, President of IAFF Local 718, who shared the struggles of the Boston Fire Fighters this past year in their contract negotiations with Mayor Menino. President Kelly spoke from the heart as he stressed the importance of communication between union members across the Commonwealth. If members know each other, and have a relationship with one another, then they will be better able to understand what is going on with our respective unions rather than having to rely solely on what is often biased media coverage. The Futures Advisory Committee, a group of young union activists who helped President Haynes plan the Convention, led participants in a brainstorm around how to continue to cultivate a community of young union leaders. Ideas that were offered by the eager participants ranged from performing community service together, to hosting programmatic workshops, and social gatherings. To wrap up, the Futures delegates elected Jeremy McKeen from the Lynn Teachers Union (AFT Local 1037) to a seat on the Executive Council of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO where he will represent young union members in the Commonwealth and act as a liaison between the Executive Council and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Futures.

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Link to Striker information website. View hand-painted images by striking artist Daniel V. Hejinian, Art Director, on the picket line.