Local 58 EWMC President: Andre Crook
In 1974 African American and Hispanic delegates to the 30th IBEW International Convention in Kansas City met to address the lack of minority representation and other inequalities within our union. The civil rights movement challenged our country to live up to the ideals espoused by the Constitution. The founding activists of the Minority Caucus understood that the IBEW must embrace the principles and actions of Diversity and Full Inclusion, at every level of the union, to organize, prosper and grow to be a stronger and more dynamic labor organization.
The Caucus serves as a support and networking system, and provides education and training for its members. The membership reflects a broad-based coalition of dedicated IBEW men and women who work within the IBEW structure to forge changes that will benefit minorities and the entire IBEW membership.
Mission
1. Promote equal opportunity and employment for minorities at all levels of the IBEW structure; 2. Foster leadership development and empower minorities to become active participants and leaders in the IBEW; 3. Assist IBEW minority members who have discrimination complaints; 4. Promote, support and assist the organizing of minority workers in the IBEW; 5. Encourage minority workers to be greater activists in community and political affairs; and 6. Be actively involved in AFL-CIO Constituency Groups, human, civil, and women’s rights organizations to advance the cause of minority workers.
The Southeastern Michigan Chapter
In November 2007, several members of Local 58, Local 17 met to discuss starting a chapter here in the Detroit area. They sent out correspondences offering membership to any locals in southeastern Michigan and even suggested traveling to different cities to have their meetings so that everyone could be included. They continued to recruit members, elected officers, and worked on establishing a chapter. After much hard work and diligence our bylaws were approved on February 20, 2009 and we received our Charter at the 2010 EWMC National Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Future
“Doing for others” is one of the important goals of the EWMC. Members work tirelessly throughout the year to be involved in our communities and to build a stronger more diverse and inclusive IBEW and Labor Movement.
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