August 30, 2007
IAPE and Labor Day
I have always been hesitant to post any kind of IAPE Labor Day message simply because IAPE has never really seemed to consider itself part of Organized Labor.
IAPE prides itself on being focused on the welfare of the Dow Jones (soon-to-be-News-Corp) employees it represents. IAPE exists solely to serve the membership, to defend the economic interests of those members and to do all it can to make this a better place to work. IAPE's mission is to do everything it can to win the membership more money, better benefits and stronger job protections.
I believe that is the heart of organized labor and that IAPE is a perfect example of the best intentions of organized labor.
Together, we fight for each other—and build a union that truly belongs to the membership. That should be the goal of every union.
Building that kind of a union is a difficult job. It requires the careful attention of everyone—and a top-to-bottom commitment to an open and responsive union. Everything we've tried to do, from a growing network of stewards to a transparent (and publicly-posted) accounting of the spending of every dime of membership money, has been designed to build exactly that kind of organization. But it's not enough.
When IAPE tackles contract bargaining, its single most important responsibility, we need more than just a network of stewards, open and accountable leadership and a full and transparent reporting of finances. We need a membership that will, when necessary, stand up — literally, stand up — and walk away from their desks to demonstrate a shared —and unbreakable — commitment to the welfare of one another.
Contract bargaining has never been about what's fair, right or logical. In the end, contract bargaining is about power. We get what we are strong enough to take. The power we need to win the contract battles that we face is never given — it always has to be built through the collective efforts of the membership day in and day out. Our steps along that road are the beginning — not the end of the journey.
The critics can accuse labor unions of being self-serving, counter-productive, bloated and corrupt— and there might well be some unions that fit that description.
But not your union. Not now. Not ever. Not as long as IAPE truly belongs to you.
And by the way, if you work on Labor Day, Monday September 3rd, you're entitled to premium pay. Make sure you file for it.
Steve Yount
President
IAPE CWA 1096