Member minute

Diane Doubrava

Diane Doubrava has been a union worker in Michigan for 25 years. She was at Michigan State University for five years before going to the state of Michigan 20 years ago. She held positions in the state Corrections, Natural Resources and Environmental Quality departments before becoming secretary in 2008 in the LIEN field services section of the Michigan State Police Department. She is chair of the women’s committee, member of the Region 1C Women’s Council, a steward, delegate to the TOP and CAP councils, a health and safety representative, recording secretary of the bylaws and education committees and member of the conservation and recreation committees.

You seem very proud of your local’s women’s conference.

“It was last March and it was the first one since 2001. We wanted to get flags out of closets, to get patriotism back in people’s hearts and to get unionism through everybody’s heads – what it means and why we need it.”

Did it work?

“Yes, the members loved it. They thanked us for telling them what our union is about. The majority had never heard ‘Solidarity Forever.’ I was on the podium and I told them, ‘Hold hands and raise ’em high!’ We had lots of new members and they were thrilled because they never knew they could do things like go to a conference. They used their own leave time to come.”

What do you tell them about why we need unions?

“For one thing we wouldn’t be where we are jobwise. Life as we know it would cease to exist. We would have no protection. Some people don’t know what right-to-work state means, and we want everybody to be well-versed in right to work because we are the ones they will be asking.”

How did you become so active?

“A friend called and asked if I wanted to be chief steward and I laughed! It came out of nowhere. I was a fence sitter, so I got off the fence. I see the whole vision of the union with us all working together. Unionism is in my heart and soul. I wish it for other people.”

Emily Everett