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The future is what me make of it Very shortly, it will be the new millennium. Many of us, I am sure, wonder what is going to happen, not only on January 1, 2000, but in the years ahead. How far will technology take us? What will happen to the labor market and unions in this new millennium? From the beginning of this century until about World War I, many in the labor movement felt their hard work for unionism was not paying off. Some labor leaders were losing hope. In 1902, Professor Carroll Daugherty wrote, "Most of the powerful ones (employers), believing that unionism was growing too strong and fearing further encroachments on their control of industry, decided to break off relations, and the years 1902 to World War I were characterized by a definitely increasing anti-unionism." We all know that unions did not fail. After that period of time they grew slowly and, by 1956, unions were reaching their peak. The 1980's were the start of a decline in union membership and most of us know why. Now, unions are fighting back once again. UTU International President Charles Little has taken a proactive stance within our organization on all fronts to ensure the future of our great organization. The AFL-CIO became proactive in organizing to strengthen union membership as a whole. I believe in the ability and dedication of many of our general and local committees and officers within our Bus Department who fight the never-ending battle on behalf of their members and for unionism. I also believe in our members. I know that we do not always agree on issues, or how to resolve them, but we all should agree that we are better off because we are unionized. We should not sit and wait to see what the new millennium will bring. The new millennium will be what we, as people and unionists, make it. In unity there is strength. |
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B.J. McNelis (L-1594) |
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