CWA 1180 - News

Future activists attend Youth 'n' Union workshop

August 2006

On July 22, Local 1180’s Committee on Arts, Events, and Entertainment held its first ever Youth ‘n’ Union workshop. Despite the wild summer rain storms that drenched the city that weekend, 26 young people braved the weather and gave up a day of hanging out with friends to attend. The event offered a variety of sessions on unions, financial planning, and talks by several guest speakers, from labor activists to a candidate for State Assembly.

The free event was attended by children and grandchildren of 1180’s members ranging in age from 9 to 18. David Anthony Murray, 18, said he would normally spend Saturdays playing basketball with friends but decided to attend the workshop because as a former employee of a nonunionized company he witnessed firsthand what the lack of union representation can mean. The experience was not a good one. “The employees were constantly bossed around by management,” he said. “Being a part of a union is very important, because unions play a major role in protecting the workers.”

One topic that sparked debate was the question of cell phones in city schools. Amanda Plum and Danielle Weeks of Queens College raised the issue as an example of how students could organize to change a policy. Sister and brother Avneet and Bitramjit Singh, ages 16 and 14, whose father works for the School Construction Authority, argued that cell phones should be allowed in case of emergency. Avneet suggested that “students could plan different strategies to fight for the right of cell phone use, like writing letters to city officials.” Both said they would welcome the opportunity to attend more youth workshops.

The youngest attendee was Danielle Glenn, 9, whose mother was a guest speaker. Danielle, who listened intently and jotted down notes in her book, said, “I learned that unions help people and give them advice.” Others in attendance, such as David Johnson, 15, agreed. “Without the unions, your boss can push you around,” David said, “but having union intervention can help against that.”

Other participants included Harlan Reid, the event’s lead planner; Gerald Brown, chair of Local 1180’s Political and Legislative Committee, who spoke on the importance of voting; and Nick Unger of the Transport Workers. Twelve-year-old Kelley Alexis serenaded the group with Celine Dion’s tune “Because You Love Me.”

State Assembly candidate Hakim Jeffries delivered an inspirational speech about the importance of unions for working families. Jeffreys, who grew up in Crown Heights, said he was thankful that both of his parents were union members, since that played a great role in his ability to complete college and law school. Jeffreys said that if elected he would work to reform the Taylor Law, which bars public sector strikes.

The event closed with popcorn and a screening of an episode of the 1970s sit-com “What’s Happening,” in which a group of workers in a local supermarket organize to fight for better working conditions and an employee cafeteria.

–Carmen Carter

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