The Changing Face of the Union: How Demographics are Shifting and Why That's Great News for All of Us
Mar 02, 2020 - by: Martinkath
The post World War II union has seen a slow but steady rise in women and minority membership. This began largely as the natural result of simply making apprenticeships more widely available, and was further championed by groups like the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, founded in 1974. The primary purpose of the EWMC is to advocate for greater diversity and inclusivity, with an emphasis on increasing the numbers of people of color and women in leadership positions across the IBEW.
This shift began to catch national attention as far back as 1977, when The New York Times included a feature article focusing on the larger role that women and minorities were playing in unions around the country:
“Although organized labor has been a strong supporter of civil rights legislation, the unions, like much of American society, have long maintained barriers against blacks, Spanish‐speaking workers and women in the job market. Those barriers have been breaking down in recent years, although many remain.”
At the time, progress meant the removal of outright racist policies such as “white only” charters and the addition, albeit in token numbers, of women adding to the membership ranks.
As of 2020, you’ll see a dramatically more diverse union. IBEW Local 48, for example, today consists of one in five female or minority members. We continue to work to create inclusive opportunities for all to build their skills, find fulfilling work, and enjoy excellent benefits and pensions.
In other words, change is here. And that’s a great thing for all of us. Here’s why.
Political Representation
Unions still have a large role to play in American politics, but only if we truly represent the people we support. As our country grows more diverse, we must do our part to remain in touch with the issues that matter to our communities. This means hearing from a variety of voices in order to understand their needs and their goals to ensure we are prepared to address those concerns when we choose which issues to advocate for (or against).
In addition, as our diversity grows, local, state, and national politicians are recognizing the change, and this is now driving political campaigns as well as immigration reform. That’s powerful.
Source: The State of the Unions 2019
Caring for Our Members and their Families
Caring for our members and their families is our top priority. As a result, it’s important to realize what matters most and where we can be involved to make their lives better. An important part of this equation is which benefits we provide, whether that’s retirement or health and wellness benefits.
Here is a great example.
IBEW Local 48 recently announced a new Harrison Trust benefit, the Pregnancy Time Loss and Extended FMLA benefit. This addition came about when Bridget Quinn, our Workforce Development Coordinator, brought the issue to leadership attention. It was then raised with the Harrison Board of Trustees, who agreed, and the benefit was added.
This is a huge win for all of our members. We are proud to be able to support our members and their families with 26 weeks of time loss benefits, as well as paid health insurance covering the same time frame at no added cost for our members. It’s important to recognize that these types of changes are only possible when we consider the needs of all. Representation is crucial to engage with this type of feedback.
A Diverse Workforce Provides Wins for All
The union works best when we bring people together. Collective bargaining helps to promote equality across the workforce, ensuring wages, seniority, due process and other provisions of employment apply equally to all members.
And, on a day to day level, a diverse workforce brings with it a diverse skill set and viewpoint, enriching the work experience for all.
Tuning in to the Next Generation of Workers
As the workforce continues to shift to include more people of color, women, and LGBTQ workers, we will continue to take steps to promote greater inclusivity and support. We continue to encourage participation and membership in groups like RENEW (Reach Out and Energize Next-Gen Electrical Workers) because we believe in supporting our next generation of workers and in helping them build their leadership skills and taking part in activities that truly represent the values of IBEW Local 48.
As we look to the future, we continue building, growing, and evolving to meet the needs of our members and to seek out new opportunities to promote greater diversity among both our members and our leadership.
