1986-01 January IBEW Journal.pdf - International Brotherhood Of ...

EDITORIAL
COMMENT
Great Strides
For A
Great New Year
Tbe beginning of a new year
is once again upon us; and traditionally
this means it is the
time of the year wben the
tboughts of most individuals,
while reflecting on the event
that consequently helped shape
tbeir lives during tbe past year,
are also concerned about wbat
the future holds for them in
thc ncw year. Therefore, resolutions
are made and plans are
considered, all with the hope
that whatever develops the results
will bring a better WAy of
life and more happinc sin the
for thcoming year.
One thing that is most important
to every member of the
mEW is that, ill thcir deliberations
and plans for 1986, careful
thought should be gi ven
with real concern about what
they can do to help maintain
the solidarity and strength of
our great union that is needed
to forward the progress of our
llrothcrhood. It is imperative
tha t each and every officer and
member in each and every local
union dedicate themselvcs to
make every effort to work for
and promote the progress of the
lBEW.
Today as in the past, those
persons and organization who
are true enemies of workers,
organized or unorganized, are
strOllgJy attacking the rigJ1ts of
workers to orj\anize and bargain
collectively. Our antiunion
enemies are still working
very hard to prevent workers
from achieving a fair share of
the profits so they can enJoy
the tbing that can bring them
economic and social happine s.
There always has been great
reSIstance toward letting unions
achieve too much at the bargaining
table for its members
or by adding to the trength of
unions by urganizing new
members. However, today the
task of olving labor's problems
has been increased with increased
restrictions md additional
antilabor atmospheres
created by an unfriendly administration
in the White House,
and greedy and unscmpulous
employer who are spending
millions and millions of dollars
on union-busting tactics in order
to keep organized labor from
improving union members'
welfare at the bargaining table
and at tbe workplace.
Despi te all these hindrances,
the advancement of the mEW
must continue as it has ever
since the beginning of the
Brotherhood. The object on
which the Hrotherhood was
fOlUlded were based on the ideal
that in complete cooperation,
the officers and members would
work to accomplish the ohjectives
for which the Brotherhood
was founded and that every
member has taken an oath
to work for and promote the
objects of the llrotherhood so
thatall members and tbeirfamilies
call have a happy life.
The objects of the Brotherhood
3re JUSt a important to
mEW officer and nlembers today
as they were to founder
and pioneers of our union. Great
progress has been made down
through the years for the members
of the lllEW because the
members of our great labor organization
have alway trived
to help the mEW to remain a
ba tion of union strength that
would better ourselves, our
union, and the community in
which we work and live.
As we enter into this new
year, we must remember that
in order to ominue to enjoy
our union way of life, we must
always strive to protect the
gains made down through the
year through the tIDity of all
the branches of our great Brotherhood.
We must make every
effort po sible in 1986 to help
the mEW remain a tower of
union strength a we move forwa
rd to better ourselves, ow
country, and the society we
live in.
To all IBEW officers, members,
amI thei1 families, and t
all the friend of the IBEW and
organized labor, I wi h a most
successful and happy new year.
hades H. Pillard
International President