Dewey Jackson, president of the
Denver Area Labor Federation,
welcome on the Business Proof.
Thank you so much for having me Ryan.
I appreciate being here.
It's good to have you and do it.
You know I have a great deal of respect
for you and all the work and effort
that you have made over the years.
And I know you continue to do not just as the
leader of the Denver Area Labor Federation,
but previously so excited to
have you on this segment with us.
Do we? Let's get right to it,
labor rights are important.
Workforce issues like health
and safety are critical,
so our wages for people's livelihoods
and the health of our economy.
Can you share more light on the
important issues that organizations
that make up the Denver Area
Labor Federation are working
on to address on behalf of your
Members and our overall community?
Sure, at the Denver Area Labor Federation
we represent 114 affiliate unions.
We those 14114 unions actually have
a membership of 45,000 plus members.
We covered the sectors from
service employees to hotel and
hospitality teachers, firefighters,
construction and building trades,
government workers and those
workers for the airlines which.
Mechanics flight attendants
just a whole swath.
So in addition to the the wage is
the health and safety those concerns.
Healthcare we we actually also
represent them on the municipal levels
of government and those municipal
levels of government are needed.
Various things that we that affect
workers which would be climate change,
access to affordable housing.
Those are just a few you know
and try and I could.
I could actually tell you so much
more with that list is so exhaustive,
so those are just a few of the
issues that we work with them on,
and I think that leads us kind
of the next question, do we?
And that's you know we're seeing
some visible efforts by employees,
especially those of larger
companies to form labor unions.
Locally, Starbucks comes to mind.
We also saw a prominent display just a
couple months ago of members of the United.
Food and commercial workers.
Local 7 exercising their option to
strike for more favorable contract
terms at King Soopers grocery stores.
What's the state?
Of Labor unions in today's economy?
And why is the role they play important?
Yes, great question.
The state of Labor unions are that
you see in the midst of the pandemic,
and now that we are hopefully.
You know on the towards the end of that
patent pandemic or that workers are
saying that their contributions to to
an employer and their their efforts be
compensated fairly and that that that
they work in a safe environment and
that they have access to healthcare.
So you will see in that state it's very
important the labor unions role to be able.
To to to expand,
and when I say expand, it is up there.
Those numbers may,
although they may be lower.
You know when you have workers
that are able to organize and to
be able to collectively bargain.
It only increases the success of
the employer and the employee.
OK, so according to the US Department
of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics,
as of last year, the number of workers
wage and salary US workers belonging
to unions declined from 10.8% down to
10.3% currently, sitting at roughly
14 million workers in Colorado.
The numbers are reported to
be at 6 1/2% or 165,000.
Workers are members of a
union now across the US Union.
Membership among public sector workers.
It is five times that of private
sector workers at 33.9% compared
to six point 1% respectively.
As we emerge as you said,
doing from this pandemic,
do you see renewed interest
and opportunity for growth?
In labor union participation,
and if so, how?
Oh yes, you know I I do see out of the
emergence of the pandemic and impetus
the start for a renewed interest with all
of the actions that we we just spoke of.
Ryan the the Starbucks workers,
the UFCW workers we have BCTGM
workers or UAW workers that were
on the lines during the pandemic.
During the midst of that is they see that to.
Bridge that inequity gap.
What it takes is it takes elected
officials that are willing to do the work,
and when I say that,
I mean we're talking about
the build back better plan,
they are able to be able to be a
part of helping to rebuild the
infrastructure of this great nation.
Not only here in Colorado,
but it it expands beyond that,
you know all the way to DC or all
the way down to the small town.
Main Street,
USA and when you are participating
within a Union,
what you know is that you will be able to.
Earn that fair wage.
Be able to make a living for you and
your family and also retire with dignity.
I have to say I have such a great deal
over respect for all the hard work
working women and men who are welders
or construction and building trades or
teachers as you said and firefighters
and so many who really do make our
communities our country our world go.
Without them we wouldn't be where we're at
and with them that's what makes me probably
most excited about where we're headed.
And that is the hard work of the commitment.
To their families,
to their fellow workers,
and and to the world that we're all
building together real quickly.
Though I have to ask because
it just popped into my mind.
Dewey, you have a plumbing background.
You know why did you become a plumber?
What? What motivated you and obviously
you became a member of a labor union.
But why did you become a plumber?
Yes, yes. So a great question.
During the Great Recession
between the years of 2007 to 2009,
I was in private sector. Oh well,
we were affected by that and was bolt.
I was ultimately let go.
So what I had to do was recreate
myself and I found the labor unions.
Traditionally,
the labor unions aren't really pushed.
In public education,
it's higher education that is pushed
in education, which I understand.
However, I was able to,
and fortunate enough to become a member
of Plumbers Local 3 here in Aurora,
Co and join the apprenticeship.
And then I actually didn't know the benefits
of being within that Union when I signed up.
But once I learned of it.
I mean,
you get the benefit of on the job training.
From day one.
You get the job,
you get the benefit of 00 debt.
When you earn your journeyman's license and
those are the things that the that the the
labor unions provide along with other things.
My pension my 401K health care.
These are the things that just encompass
and it actually sums up your your.
You're questioning Ryan as to why is this so.
Why is this so important?
And that would be the answer
the the answers are many,
but they're all few,
and it all boils down to two.
One thing is that willing to to serve?
And to do that collectively.
Dewey Jackson with the Denver Area
Labor federation. Thank you for
joining us on the business brief.
Thank you again Ryan.
I sure do appreciate it.