AFL-CIO Young Workers Summit Shows Promising Future for Labor

The AFL-CIO's first-ever Young Workers Summit drew more than 400 young people to Washington, D.C., last week, generating ideas to mobilize younger workers and strengthen the union movement.

"It was an awesome experience," said Chris Lane, a "Next Up" conference speaker and the youngest-ever president of CWA Local 2201 in Richmond, Va. "I was so excited and motivated and recharged by it, especially with all the networking I was able to do."

Lane was 31 when he was elected Local 2201's president four years ago. "I talked about how the younger generation has a set of issues and concerns, wages are a big one, and the older generation may be thinking more about defined benefit pensions and health care," Lane said. "I told them that neither side can survive without the other, and together we can thrive."

Through workshops and group discussions, participants called for a "Next Up" constituency group; a national youth summit every year; Next Up member representation on AFL-CIO local, state and national organizations, blogs for young workers and many other ideas.

CWA's Next Generation committee, launched at the 2009 CWA Convention, also is building energy throughout our union. The committee will meet again later this month and will report on its progress to CWA Convention delegates next month in Washington, D.C. 

For more on the AFL-CIO's Young Workers Summit, check out the "Next Up: Young Workers Forum" page at Facebook.com.