What concerns me is that there is a growing separation between workplace and home for many workers due to advances in technology and communication. A workforce that can easily become hidden since there is no space for face to face discussion pertaining to worker/employer issues.
Can face to face communication regarding union issues be replaced by a forum in the World Wide Web? What are the barriers? What are the advantages? Are we ready for it now?
The UALE gave us a space away from out work lives to reflect on the current state of the union (pun intended). I was happy to see rank and file members there. Fresh faces and fresh voices. I met two young sophomores: Lindsey Bloomingdale (AFSCME Council 13 Intern), who remembers going to her first union convention when she was under five with her mother, and the energetic Jodi Rafalko (Penn State LER Intern), who was everywhere. Both taught me much.
I spoke with Lindsey (majoring in psychology) about the changing work force and she was quick to grasp the problems a home based workforce will have, on those who labor and those who want to prevent exploitation. She is cognizant that it will be the world that she will be in when she enters the workforce. Interaction with Jodi was primarily in the computer lab. She is majoring in Labor Relations, and a native of the world of information technology (as is Lindsey) and plans to specialize in contact negotiation.
Two very different young ladies, who are not even 21. Their generation will have the challenge of mobilizing a different kind of force. Let us help them by laying down the foundations, so that they can contribute to the forming a strong union that is effective in the age of information technology.
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| Lindsey |
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| Jodi |
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