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Recognized as an Effective School-to-Work Practice,
November, 2002
Career Day: Teaching High School Students the Importance
of Unions
Teamsters Local Union 115
Philadelphia, PA
Overview of the Project
In May 2002, Local Union No. 115 collaborated with
Teamsters Local Union No. 502 to conduct a career day
focused on teaching high school students about the
importance of the labor movement and unions. Local Union
115 represents approximately 3,000 workers in all job
categories from housekeepers at the University of
Pennsylvania to registered nurses to factory production
workers throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, southern
New Jersey and the New Castle, Delaware area. The career
day event was conducted at Lincoln High School in
Philadelphia with a total of more than 200 students
participating. These were students in grades 9-12 and
over 50% were students from diverse, multicultural
groups. Organizing and managing this involved
significant levels of collaboration between Local Unions
115 and 502, the high school, and its administrative and
teaching staff.
Local 115 members worked in teams and made presentations
within individual classrooms throughout the day. The video
Roadmap for Skills for Tomorrow, developed by the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was also used during
the classroom presentations. Students received information
about collective bargaining, the benefits of working in a
union workplace, and about the rights and protections that
unions offer to workers. In addition to providing students
with information about Local 115 and the Teamsters, several
union members shared perspectives on their current jobs.
Presentations were made on a range of occupational areas
including housekeeping, manufacturing, waste management, and
others. Also emphasized was the role the union can play in
supporting job training opportunities for their members.
According to James E. Smith, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer and
Business Manager of Local Union 115, “This was the first
event of this type for Local 115 and for Lincoln High
School. Career Day was well received by students, high
school staff, and our members who participated.”
The Need
Local 115 recognized that there was a need to
increase student awareness and understanding about
unions and their importance in the workplace. Many
students only have a vague idea of why unions exist and
very few are familiar with the historical importance of
the labor movement. The need to increase the awareness
about unions among high school students was also viewed
as important, due to the large number of students who
choose not to attend colleges and universities. These
students leave high school looking for job opportunities
with good wages and benefits. Helping these students to
understand the role unions play in promoting worker
career opportunities, making available job training
programs, securing good wages and benefits for their
members, and in protecting their rights is an important
role unions can play. As James E. Smith comments, “This
was an opportunity for our local to offer a basic
message about unions. The message was simply that we are
about good wages and benefits, making available free
education and training opportunities, and protecting our
members’ rights. We need to convey to students the mind
set that unions are a positive force and help them
overcome any misconceptions they may have about working
in a union setting.” Local 115 also recognizes the
importance of being an active and contributing member of
their community. Working with high school students to
promote their career development, knowledge about
unions, increase their awareness on a wide range of
careers, and to inform them of the role unions play is
an important aspect of being part of a community.
Meeting the Need
The May 2002 Career Day at Lincoln High School was
the first event of this type for Local 115. As James E.
Smith notes, “We weren’t involved in anything like this
previously. I was requested to serve on the board of
directors for one of the Philadelphia schools clusters
(the Philadelphia public schools organized into clusters
in the 2001-02 school year to support school-community
cooperation) and I saw there was an opportunity for our
local to get involved with one of the high schools.” Dr.
George DiPilato, President of Teamsters Local Union 502,
the local that represents school administrators in
Philadelphia, got involved and supported this activity.
Dr. DiPilato was also the former principal of Lincoln
High School and introduced James E. Smith to the current
principal. This essentially initiated the relationship
between Local 115 and Lincoln High School.
One of the first steps in moving forward was to introduce
the career day idea to Local 115 members. A request for
volunteers was made and eight members indicated an interest
in participating in Career Day. An initial meeting was
conducted with the principal of Lincoln High School and
other representatives of the school administration. Dr.
George DiPilato was also in attendance. Career Day was
structured into two teams of four Local 115 members each.
Each team was assigned to make presentations in two social
studies classes during the morning. A meeting was also
conducted with representatives of the Lincoln student
government to further present information on the Teamsters
and Local 115 and to address questions from students. Lunch
was provided for representatives of the school
administration and student government. The high school’s
counselor was instrumental in making the primary
arrangements with the social studies teachers and in
organizing the meeting with the student government
representatives.
The Teamsters video, Roadmap for Skills For Tomorrow,
was shown initially as a means of providing students with a
broad overview of the Teamsters and the types of jobs
Teamster members hold in various industry sectors. Local 115
also distributed informational brochures describing the
Teamsters, its activities, and diversification of
occupational classifications. Also distributed was the quiz
entitled, What are your rights in the workplace?, as
well as International Brotherhood of Teamsters pens and
union pins. Members of the student government were also
provided with Teamster t-shirts as part of the day’s
activity. Information was then presented on the benefits of
being a union worker. Local 115 members presented
information on the collective bargaining process, wages and
benefits, job training opportunities, and protections that
unions provide their workers. In order to further illustrate
the benefits of becoming a union member, several team
members gave individual presentations on how they have
benefited from the union. The following provides several
illustrations of these presentations:
- Employee of KURZ–Hastings, Inc. described his
on-the-job training for a complicated piece of machinery
and impressed the students with his hourly wage of $24.65,
which he totally credited to Local 115’s contract under
which he works.
- A housekeeper at the University of Pennsylvania also
perked interest when he related a similar benefit under
the contract, of a free university education for himself
and his family as a member of Local 115.
- A factory worker at Hereaus Electro-Nite Company
discussed her good salary and opportunities and emphasized
the excellent health coverage she had received during a
recent illness.
- An employee of Waste Management, Camden told the
students about the significant difference in wages,
benefits, and working conditions after Local 115 organized
their shop.
- A Local 115 recording secretary and one of the
business agents from Local 115 described some common
workplace grievances and complaints that can be quickly
and successfully addressed under a union contract.
- A custodial employee at Drexel University in
Philadelphia reported that she is taking courses toward
her B.A. degree at no cost to her because of Local 115’s
contract with the university.
A question-and-answer period followed each team’s
presentation. Lincoln High School teachers supported this
activity by prompting and encouraging students to think
about questions they would like to have addressed by the
team members. Team members emphasized the important career
opportunities available within union workplaces and reminded
students that a union contract aids significantly in
providing good wages, hours, and working conditions in
virtually all professions. Students were also encouraged to
think about the union message and information they received
during the day when they enter the work world and remember
the types of jobs, wages, and benefits available to them
through a Teamster contract. Team members pointed out that
even non-glamour jobs (such as cleaners) can have very good
benefits, such as free education for themselves and their
family members. James E. Smith, in reflecting on the
presentations, commented, “The message to students was that
jobs and careers are what you make of them and being a
member of the Teamster union expands and enriches these
opportunities.”
Students were also encouraged to participate in events
and activities, both in school and within the community. The
principles of activism and solidarity were stressed as
positive messages for all workers. Students were reminded
that union workers are also activists in all areas, not only
at the work place, but in the political, legislative, and
community and social awareness arenas as well. Between class
periods, team members conducted open discussions with
representatives from Lincoln High School’s student
government. It was pointed out that their governance duties
and role as advocates for the student body were similar in
many ways to Local 115, representing workers in roles as
business agents and stewards.
Following Career Day, the team members returned to Local
115’s offices and held a roundtable discussion regarding the
experience. As James E. Smith commented, “We all agreed that
it was worthwhile and we’d do the same type of session next
year and participate in other ways to help the school and
the students.” A follow up letter thanking the school
principals, administrative staff, and student government
leaders was sent directly following the event.
The Results
Several specific benefits were identified as a result
of Local 115’s Career Day at Lincoln High School. First,
over 200 students were involved in presentations on
unions and the benefits they achieve for their members.
In addition, the presentations helped to take away any
misconceptions students held about unions and their role
in the workplace. That is, students who were unfamiliar
with unions held apprehensions about their role and the
presence of Local 115’s members helped to dispel these
concerns. Another outcome of the career day event was
that one student secured a part time job with Local 115
as a clerical assistant. The Lincoln High School student
government was also engaged in discussions that helped
underscore their role as activists and supporters of the
entire student body at Lincoln High School. Third, the
Teamster video, Roadmap for Skills For Tomorrow,
proved to be an effective means of starting the
presentations and introducing students to the Teamsters
union and specific occupations the union represents. The
brochures, Teamster pens and pins and other high
interest “give-aways” also helped to get the students’
attention and keep them motivated and interested in the
presentations. Fourth, by working with Lincoln High
School and its students, Local 115 also fulfilled part
of its community service role in Philadelphia. As James
E. Smith indicates, “Local 115 has a strong community
orientation and encourages its members to be an active
part of the community. The local is involved in many
community service projects within the city of
Philadelphia.” Finally, the school administration and
teachers also expressed satisfaction with Local 115’s
presentations and are looking forward to continuing this
relationship.
Reflections
James E. Smith commented, “Even though the career day
event at Lincoln High School was a highly successful
experience, it could have been expanded to additional
classrooms to reach an even greater number of students.
Every local should be able to do this type of an event.
It was something very positive for our local and
ultimately it helps us all in promoting the value and
benefits of unions to young people who really are our
future.” He further advises, “Don’t underestimate your
union members in terms of their interest to volunteer
these types of activities. We are very proud of what we
accomplished with our members and we are determined that
there will be many more opportunities like this to
support high school students.” Local 115 also viewed
Career Day as an organizing experience. That is, the
impressions made on these students may help them to
think about the importance of organizing for future
employment situations. Having knowledge about the
Teamsters, Local 115, and other unions in terms of their
capacity to support their members is important for young
people as they complete school and enter the workforce.
In summarizing his thoughts on this issue, James E.
Smith stressed, “We need to make an impression on young
people by giving them basic information about unions
that will guide their decisions and actions in the
future.”
More Information
For more information about Career Day: Teaching
High School Students the Importance of Unions,
contact:
James E. Smith, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer and Business
Manager Teamsters Local Union No. 115
2833 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19149
Telephone: (215) 333-4146
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