Seven IBEW Members GRaduate from National Labor College

Seven IBEW Members Graduate from
National Labor College

August 2, 2005

The National Labor College, which held graduation ceremonies on June 25 in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a center for lifelong learning. There's no better expression of that term than Ilene Ferrell, Portland, Oregon Local 48, one of seven IBEW 2005 graduates.

After finishing her inside wireman apprenticeship in 2001, Ferrell immediately applied to the college, graduating with a bachelor's degree in labor studies in 2003. Before the ink was dry on her diploma, she applied for the college's masters program. On June 25, Ferrell was awarded a master's degree in public administration.

Describing herself as someone who "steps up" when her local needs help, Ferrell has helped organize local picnics and serves as chair of the Local 48 Women's Committee, where her husband, Mike Evans, serves as vice president. She is a delegate to the Clark, Skamania, West Klickitat Central Labor Council and a delegate to the Washington State Labor Council Women's Committee.

Four years ago, the IBEW Journal featured a story on Ferrell's accomplishments as chair of the Apprentice Mentoring Committee at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center in Portland.

Ferrell says that having a formal education is a great way for rank and file members to step into professional positions at the local and national level of unions, where they are needed. Many unions, she says, have to fill positions with people unfamiliar with the principles of unionism. "Our unity reflects our strength," she says, "and education is a direct component to building our strength."

Chuck Borell, business representative, Syracuse, New York Local 97, received his bachelor's degree in labor studies. Borell, who had attended Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, applied his credits to NLC, beginning course work in 2003.

"I think that improving my writing techniques was the best benefit of the NLC program," says Borell. His senior paper investigated how unions can be more successful in labor arbitration. Borell sent detailed questionnaires to 100 arbitrators and received responses from 74.

Vair Clendenning, International Representative for the First District from Edmonton, Alberta, a graduate in labor education, said the most valuable part of his experience was the interaction with other students from different unions across North America and the Caribbean. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in labor education.

Clendenning travels across a wide section of Canada and into Minnesota in his service to the Brotherhood. The college's program of single weeks-in-residence, followed by six months of work at home, communicating with instructors by e-mail, is very suitable to his life on the road, he says.

Underscoring NLC's commitment to labor's future, Clendenning's senior paper was entitled, IBEW Canada-Organize for Survival. He encourages National Labor College alumni to volunteer to set up tables at IBEW district progress meetings to help recruit new students.

Anthony Griffin, a member of Chicago Local 134 and instructor at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute says: "I have become more complete as a union member and activist," by attending NLC. The graduate in labor studies, counts "improving my understanding of labor structure and the labor movement" among his accomplishments.

Griffin based his senior project upon the 2004 Presidential election. He considered how union members choose political parties. While a majority of members he surveyed voted for Democratic nominee John Kerry, the majority of all members surveyed said that they would also give serious consideration to a third party candidate should one come forward who represents their views.

Joey A. Govea, also a member of Local 134, a graduate in labor studies, an apprentice instructor and member of the local's examining board, relished meeting other trades people from around the country in Silver Spring. His senior project considered how the union can bridge the gap between members who served in the apprenticeship program and those who are recruited through organizing. He surveyed and interviewed organizers from the local union, the director of the apprenticeship program and journeymen and apprentices.

Robert Raesch, a member of Washington, D.C. IBEW Local 26, a graduate in political economy of labor, says, "From waking up old brain cells to begin learning again; to understanding what organized labor stands for -- workers' rights, human rights...I wish I did this thirty years ago."

Raesch, who delivered remarks on graduation day as the senior class representative, was profiled in a lengthy story about the NLC in the Washington Post last June.

After working 30 years as an inside wireman, Raesch suffered a back injury. Raesch, whose wife, Pat, is a legislative analyst at the IBEW International office, now works part-time as a researcher for the Union Label and Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

Urging other members to attend NLC, Raesch says, "With one's life experiences and the hard work at NLC, the labor education will become a testimony to our children, to the young workers and seasoned workers alike -- that it is never too late to go back to school and get a degree."

Pete Cunningham, Chicago Local 134, a graduate in labor studies, won a distinguished paper award for his senior project about the IBEW System Council T-4's 1968 strike against Illinois Bell Telephone.

An electrical inspector with the City of Chicago, Cunningham began attending labor courses at the University of Illinois at Chicago in September of 2000.

First established by the AFL-CIO in 1974 on a 47- acre site, the George Meany Center for Labor Studies offered a Bachelor’s Degree in Labor Studies from the early 1970's in association with Antioch College.

In the mid 1990s, the AFL-CIO approved the establishment of an independent labor college. The NLC was founded in 1997. In 2004, the college achieved full accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an independent, regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The college offers bachelor's degrees in eight major areas and over 70 intensive, week-long continuing education programs.

Students from dozens of AFL-CIO unions attend one -week sessions on campus, followed by six months of home study, communicating with instructors and other students over the Internet. The college awards credits for "experiential learning," which students acquire on the job, in apprenticeship training, in community activity and businesses or in their locals. (www.georgemeany.org).