Fourth Quarter 2012 - IA.TSE Local 80

PYoungWorkers Conferences 2012Philadelphia, PA – There were two full houses during theIATSE Young Workers Conferences in Philadelphia this fall. TheConferences were aimed at teaching practical leadership skillsand empowering members 35 years of age and under in their Localand their jobsite or workplace.Instructors taught educationalseminars to 109 attendees at theSeptember 2012 Conference, and71 attendees in October 2012.The attendance came from 71IATSE local unions in the U.S., Canada,and two attendees from our sisterunion BECTU in the United Kingdom.Those who attended were sponsoredby their Local Executive Board andrepresented numerous crafts anddifferent levels of union leadership.From Local officers, job stewards,members involved in labor activitiesoutside the IATSE and some just dedicatedIATSE members who wanted toget more involved; a diverse group ofyounger members attended. Regardlessof their position, all were excited,dedicated, and ready to share ideas.This is the first time that the IATSEhas ever held an event of this kind, andthe Conferences were split up into twoevents to accommodate as many applicantsas possible. IATSE InternationalPresident Matthew D. Loeb kicked offthe September conference, and FirstInternational Vice President MichaelBarnes spoke at the October conference,both mentioning the importanceof activism within the labor movement,as well as sharing their own experiencesof being a young IATSE member.“In this age of assaults on workers’rights and economic challenges notfaced in generations, unions must useall their resources to fight back, growand stay strong,” said President Loeb.“Engaging young IATSE members anddeploying their ideas and energy inour efforts is a vital component if weare to secure the future. I will continueto support this initiative that aims toenlist these members in support oftheir leadership and to ensure we remainstrong long into the future.”International Representative JoeHartnett emceed the Conference, aswell as lecturing about “Young Workersin the IATSE” and “The History andStructure in the IA.” National LaborCollege instructor Patricia Westwaterspoke Saturday on the Myers-BriggsType Indicator which is personalityinformation that can be appliedtowards working with others on thejobsite or group environment. Universityof Arkansas Labor EducationProgram instructors Grainger Ledbetterand Meredith Stepp finishedoff Saturday and Sunday, continuingwith the leadership instruction andreiterating “Why Unions Still Matter.”Finally, Sister Leah Okin of Local 28spoke on her own experiences as anactive young union member.Despite a heavy education courseschedule, the Committee membersand instructors noted how attentiveand engaged all attendees were. Betweenthe early mornings and seminars,attendees found ample time tonetwork and meet union memberslike themselves. Providing this invaluableopportunity for members tomeet and talk would not be possiblewithout the help of Local 8. Basedin Philadelphia, Local 8 volunteeredmembers to assist with logisticsthroughout the Conference, acted astour guides around the city, and wereBoth weekend conferences were hosted bythe IATSE Young Workers Committee:Emily Tao, Director of Communications,Young Worker Committee ChairJoe Hartnett, International Representative,Young Worker Committee Co-Chair, InstructorJennifer Triplett, International Representative,Young Worker Committee Co-ChairYoung Worker Committee members:Leah Okin: Local 28, Vice PresidentPatrick Landers: Local 13, Vice PresidentDoug Ledingham: Local 461, PresidentJonathan Tortorice: Local 8, Executive Board memberEducation seminars planned with the help of:Patricia White, Director of Educationand Training; Local 764, PresidentMargaret LaBombard, Education AssistantHelp from:Christopher “Radar” Bateman, International RepresentativeVanessa Holtgrewe, International Representativeoverall generous hosts to this event.If Locals or members are interestedin further activities of the Young WorkersCommittee, they can sign up forCAST AND CREWthe mailing list at ywc@iatse-intl.organd follow them at: www.facebook.com/groups/iatseywc || www.twitter.com/iatseywc.Special thanks to:Matthew D. Loeb, International PresidentMichael Barnes, First International Vice PresidentLocal 8 Members – Volunteers, Sergeant-at-arms,tour guides, party planners, and overall generous hostsEducation seminars:Young Workers in the IATSE, the Historyand Structure in the IATSE – Joe Hartnett,International RepresentativeCharacteristics of Leadership and the Myers BriggsPersonality Test – Patricia Westwater, NLC InstructorDeveloping Your Leadership Style – Grainger Ledbetter,University of Arkansas LEP InstructorDealing with Conflict in the Local - Grainger Ledbetter,University of Arkansas LEP InstructorWhy Unions Still Matter - Grainger Ledbetter/MeredithStepp, University of Arkansas LEP InstructorWhat You Can Do as a Young Worker –Leah Okin, Local 28 Vice PresidentFrom left to right: Jonathan Tortorice of Local 8, InternationalRepresentative Jennifer Triplett, Director of CommunicationsEmily Tao, Doug Ledingham of Local 461, InternationalPresident Loeb, International Representative Joe Hartnett,Patrick Landers of Local 13, International RepresentativeChris “Radar” Bateman, Leah Okin of Local 28 and EducationAssistant Margaret LaBombard.Young WorkersConference IIYoung Workers Conference I6 Official BulletinFourth Quarter 2012 7