When the workers’

University Employees, explained how rank and file members and chapter officers, dissatisfied with AFSCME’s bureaucratic setup, broke away, formed their own statewide union and won collective bargaining rights for 18,000 clerical employees of the University of California. “They said it was impossible, but we did it.”

Another “impossible” victory was reported by Renee Bost, newly elected treasurer of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, largest in the American Postal Workers Union; her reform caucus took over the local in a special election and was overwhelmingly reelected just on the eve of the AUD conference (see the article in this issue). In another postal union, a victorious insurgent reform caucus rescued Branch 294 of the National Association of Letter Carriers from the dead hand of a do-nothing leadership. Brian Keelan, new local secretary, told that story. Under the old regime, John Ring, an active steward, had been diagnosed by postal management as “paranoid” because he filed grievances. Ring was elected local treasurer; they got rid of the manager.

Tim Schermerhorn was introduced by Andy Piascik as “for

a time, the most dangerous man in New York City.” Tim was

narrowly defeated for president of Transport Workers Local

100, the union of New York City bus and subway workers. In

15 years of insurgent activity, his New Directions Group has

won over 40% of the seats on the local executive board. Mayor

Giuliani accused him of trying to provoke a subway strike during last years transit negotiations.

inspiration through the union’s blood shall run...

30th

anniversary conference

The Association for

Union Democracy

• April 7, 8, 9,

Construction workers

That same mix of new rank and file insurgents and experienced leaders joined in discussions among construction workers on two main issues: 1. defending democracy at a time of union consolidation, mergers, and centralization throughout the industiy, and 2. project and “presidents” agreements that sometimes undermine local standards. There were rank and file Carpenters from the newly formed Carpenters for a Democratic Union International: Lisa Narducci from New York, Susan and Mike Cranmer from Boston, Bill Rugh from Philadelphia; and Dan Boswell, IBEW, now retired. They could learn from two experienced union leaders: Ron Nobili, business manager of Laborers Local 665 in Connecticut; and Charles Delgado, retired business manager of IBEW Local 527 in Texas. Delgado had run as an insurgent for IBEW international president in 1982. He initiated the battle for a secret ballot for convention delegates in the election of all international officers; his proposal was shelved by the leadership that year. Years later, others who resumed the battle were successful at the 1996 international convention.

Women

Two generations of women workers gathered for a panel entitled “Pioneers and the Next Wave” to discuss the progress of women in nontraditional trades. Susan Eisenberg (electrician; author, poet) spoke about the importance of the external support for women entering the trades in the 70’s, both from the government and from advocacy and tradeswomen’s groups. Cynthia Long, one of the first women in IBEW Local 3, emphasized the need for women to share their skills and the special responsibilities of being “first.” Regina Wilson, United Fire Fighters’ Association, one of four women hired since 1988, and the only African-American woman hired by the NYFD in the last 15 years, described departmental hiring practices that are a continuing obstacle to

continued on page 6

speaks at the women’s panel “Pioneers and the Next Wave”

June 2000

5

Union Democracy Review