Union Education
Eight years ago, leaders at Local 893 figured out that public opinion around Marshalltown, Iowa, ranked unions as low as used car salesmen and “hired thugs.”
“We knew we had to do something if that's how people saw us. We decided we needed to get out into the community,” said John Baker, the amalgamated local's president. Taking it to the streets meant taking the union's message to the local high schools and community colleges.
“The kids get to see we're regular people, and we get them to think about bigger issues like child labor around the world,” Baker said.
“Students need to be informed about the union, and what it can do for them when they are in their career,” said South Tama High School English teacher Deb Plantz, who has had union speakers in her classroom every year since the program started.
Tim Kelley, Tim Pefferman and Tony Fann are the members
of Local 893's education committee.
