Resolution No. 4: Next Generation: Education, Collaboration and Visibility

WHEREAS, the Next Generation program (NextGen) is designed to empower new and young workers, providing a supportive space for collaboration, visibility, and education and the opportunity to connect with peers, voice ideas, and engage in meaningful activities to build worker power.

WHEREAS, since our founding days, we have been a union that welcomed all regardless of age and have worked to mentor, educate and empower the next generation of activists and leaders to ensure our sustainable future; and

WHEREAS, the USW has shown leadership and courage by investing in its future by establishing a Next Generation department and creating a permanent structure for the NextGen program, including the commitment of staff and resources at the International, District and Local levels, appointing of NextGen coordinators in every district in the United States and Canada, and providing various education and training opportunities geared to this demographic; and

WHEREAS, the NextGen program introduces new and young workers to the diverse world of activism. It provides ample opportunities for members to engage, learn and contribute through both constitutionally mandated and voluntary local union committees so that, together, we can foster personal growth and community and local union impact; and

WHEREAS, NextGen members have participated in bargaining, labor disputes,  organizing new members into our union, building stronger local unions, working collaboratively with other activist programs of our union, and becoming allies in our communities; and

WHEREAS, we understand that a strong, sustainable, global labor movement is the key to a better life for young workers and their families because unions improve wages, worker health and safety, block anti-worker legislation, demand equality by leading the fight for social, economic and racial justice; and

WHEREAS, corporations concerned about profits above people, continue to try and break unions, drive down wages, erode benefits and push inequity with multi-tier and other divide-and-conquer strategies at the bargaining table; and

WHEREAS, we continue to lead the charge for strong domestic manufacturing policies and economic security by supporting fair trade deals that promote workers’ rights and create good jobs in all sectors, as well as to fight against forced and sweatshop labor and environmental destruction in the name of higher profits in bad trade deals; and

WHEREAS, young workers have a significantly more positive view of unions than their older peers and yet union membership rates among young people are far lower than those of older workers, exposing an opportunity to connect more young workers with the USW; and

WHEREAS, at the heart of the NextGen program is the belief that activism takes many forms, not every member will choose the same path; some may lead as elected officials, while others may prefer to engage in different capacities, and this diversity is essential for strengthening our union both internally and externally.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:

1. Our union pledges to support and create a respectful atmosphere for USW members of all ages at every level to be active in the labor movement throughout their lifetimes with the understanding that we need to work together in order to have the best union possible for current and future generations. The USW NextGen will work closely with the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) and others to protect the promises made to our retirees and understand their hard-fought protections that are currently at risk of being dismantled.
2. We re-dedicate ourselves to the commitment that we will include NextGen members in the important work of our union, including bargaining, so that we unite to fight against injustice, including the multi-tier trap and attacks on retiree benefits that corporations push to try to divide and conquer our movement. We also encourage discussions about new and different ways of doing our work, including transnational solidarity efforts and the use of modern technology.
3. The USW will continue to develop USW NextGen district coordinators in the United States and Canada, as well as complete a formal mentoring program, and together these leaders will endeavor to help every local union create a NextGen committee.
4. We commit to training and empowering NextGen members so that they may contribute in meaningful ways to growing and strengthening our union through organizing, both internally and externally, and we support including NextGen in union-wide efforts to welcome, educate and engage new workers from all ages, professions and backgrounds into our union with open arms, including through new employee orientation programs.
5. We continue to support the integration and involvement of younger members into current programs in the United States and Canada, including Education and Membership Development, Rapid Response, Political Action, Legislative Action, Health, Safety and Environment, Civil and Human Rights, Women of Steel, Bargaining Committees, the Leadership Scholarship program and all other integral parts of our union.
6. The USW supports increased legislative, political, community and union activism at the local, district and International levels for USW members of all ages, and endorses the continued focus on developing our newest Steelworker activists to take on increasingly greater roles in our union, their governments and their communities.
7. NextGen will continue to be leaders in important economic, social, gender and racial justice movements consistent with our union’s values to fight for equality and better lives for all working people.
8. We commit to encouraging the participation of NextGen members during events, meetings, conferences and conventions and other union-related work. Our commitment extends to mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders to ensure a sustainable future for our union and the labor movement.