Organizing Steward Danielle Bonds (CSR, PG&E), Building Manager Tonya Alston and Organizing Steward and Women’s Committee member Iyasha Davis represented IBEW 1245 at this year’s AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil & Human Rights Conference in Austin, Texas.
The event featured guest speakers, opportunities for community service, and workshops. Accountability, economic wellbeing, health and security, and service were recurring themes, tied together by a unified call to organize and to stand in solidarity.
Speakers described the long history of the labor movement. They acknowledged the fight against slave labor, the Civil Rights Movement and the ongoing struggle for living wages, healthcare, education and affordable housing.
IBEW 1245’s Delegates Danielle Bonds, Tonya Alston, Iyasha Davis
Sister Bonds shared one of her highlights was the keynote address by Texas House of Representatives Member Jasmine Felicia Crockett. “What I learned from her was no matter what your political preference is, we need to hold everyone accountable in office,” she said.
Sister Davis added, “Rep. Crockett planted a seed in me and perhaps I could be more proactive by assisting with events or workshops that showcase the benefits of union membership, like fair wages, workplace protections, and collective bargaining power….I would like to involve myself with partnering with community organizations or hosting informational sessions to help non-union workers understand how unions work and why they’re valuable. Sharing success stories from IBEW and working with the women’s committee to work with our youth giving them the information about belonging to a union and what that means and looks like for their future is my passion.”
“It was a great conference,” said Sister Alston. “Hundreds of men and women from a cross section of unions came together in a show of strength and solidarity.”
IBEW 1245 Delegate Danielle Bonds, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Rennie Blye, IBEW Civil & Community Engagement Dept, IBEW 1245 Delegate Iyasha Davis