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FamilyTiesWhen Unionism Is in the BloodBY KATE CHILDS GRAHAMAFSCME is built of union sisters and brothers. And in thatsense, AFSCME is a family. But for some members, that familyconnection is literal. Their union steward might just besitting across from them at the dinner table.The potential impact of senior labor veteranson young family members is significant at a time whenmore than three times as many people ages 55 to 64 areunion members as are younger workers ages 16 to 24. Forthose in the latter group who are union members, those tieswere often passed down from parents and grandparents, orother family ties.We talked with three members, whose labor activismbegins right at home, about the family influence thatwelcomed them into the labor movement, and why that’s atie that binds.Like Grandfather, Like Father, Like SonMichael McDonald is a groundskeeper at the University of Rhode Islandand the president of Local 528 (Council 94). His local’s vice president?Also, Michael McDonald. Senior.Michael’s dad became an AFSCME member in the late 1970s,following in the footsteps of his father – also named Michael – whoworked as the captain of the police department at the university in the1970s and 80s.The youngest Michael spent his summers at the university and hisweekends at union rallies or meetings with his father and grandfather. “Igrew up in a union house, with all the activism,” he said, “I didn’t knowanything different.”Michael’s father has been the local’s vice president for nearly 30 years.When the young man decided to run for president of his local and won, hisdad was filled with pride.Michael is also a Next Waver – AFSCME’s group of young members –and stepping into a leadership role meant building upon what his fatherhad done and lifting up the voice of a new generation. “I can’t stress howimportant it is for young members to take the mantle,” he said. “We needyoung people to step up and take that leadership role.”Solidarity at home and inthe workplace: (clockwisefrom top): generations ofthe Kalua family; Ohio’sMorneweck family; twoMichael McDonaldswith Council 94 Pres.J. Michael Downey22 AFSCME WORKS SPRING 2013PHOTO TOP: KALUA FAMILY; BOTTOM: RHODE ISLAND LOCAL 528
A Family AffairSheralyn Kalua is a custodian at Waiakea High School. She’s a UnitedPublic Workers/Local 646 member. So was her mother Sherry, her uncleWilliam and her aunt Miriam. Her dad, Herring, is an Hawaii GovernmentEmployees/AFSCME Local 152 member, as is her brother, Herring, Jr.Her grandfather and uncle, both Samuel, were both in HGEA and UPW atdifferent points in their careers.The surname Kalua is synonymous with AFSCME in Hawaii.As a young child, Sheralyn remembers knocking on doors andattending rallies with her father and grandfather. He father instilled inher and her siblings the benefits of being a union member.“He always told us to be involved,” in the union, for the strengthand solidarity it provided, Sheralyn said. “If you look at other (nonunion)people, he would say, ‘They don’t have the benefits or the jobsecurity that we have.’”When Sheralyn had the opportunity to visit AFSCME’s Washington,DC, office this winter, her father told her, “You don’t realize what the uniondoes for you until you go behind the scenes and see what your union does.”During her visit, she had the opportunity to see the inner workingsof the union, from organizing and research to political actionand legislation. That trip transformed her inheritedactivism into activism of her own.Now, Sheralyn is passing on her family’s AFSCMEtradition and her own passion for the union to herfour children, all under the age of 10.“We go house to house organizing workers,talking to voters,” Sheralyn said, “I get them involvedjust like my father did for me and my grandfather didfor him.”Labor of LoveCouples today meet at a party, a bar or online. That wasn’tthe case for Tom and Diana Morneweck. In 1988, Tom and Diana,who both work for Summit County in Akron, Ohio, met workingon AFSCME political action campaigns.Their love for AFSCME and for each other has carriedthem through more than 20 years of marriage. Tom is nowpresident of Local 1229 and Diana, a union representative.Their family motto? “We are union through and through,” Tom said.Their union activism hasn’t gone unnoticed by their children andgrandchildren, who have often asked, “Do you ever talk about anythingbesides the union?”They’ve even been trying to organize their youngest daughter’semployer, the Juvenile Court in Summit County.Whether organizing drives or political rallies, Tom and Diane are theretogether. During the fight against Senate Bill 5, they canvassed together.“We went door to door,” Tom explained, “She took one side of the street,and I took the other.”Send comments to kchildsgraham@afscme.orgHAVE YOU R OWN AFSCME FAMILY STORY?Email family@afscme.org with your story and a photo and youcould be featured on AFSCME’s blog.PHOTO: MORNEWECK FAMILYAFSCME.org 23
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