Related Articles

Page 2 of 4
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
1986-1991 A Union of Hearts and Minds

<...Previous

Local 1200, Washington, D.C., members brought coverage of the 1987 Iran-Contra hearings to the world. The congressional inquiry focused on accusations of Reagan administration officials engaging in using the transfer of profits from the sale of arms to Iran to illegally fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

But possibly the most deeply rooted change brought about within the IBEW in the last five years is the emphasis placed on performing work for the benefit of the communities in which union members live. Adopted by the Brotherhood shortly alter President Barry and Secretary Moore came into office, “The Union of Hearts and Minds” theme brings into focus the thousands of members who volunteer their time and contribute their skills and money to those in need in their community. The theme has set the tone for the Barry and Moore years—years of rebuilding faith in organized labor, of promoting pride in American and Canadian craftsmanship, and attaining substantive progress for working-people across tile United States and Canada.

The Union of Hearts and Minds” theme stands in sharp contrast to the tone set by tile late-Reagan administration and the early- Bush administration. Former Vice President George Herbert Walker Bush won the presidency in 1988, and promised in his Inaugural Address to build “a kinder, gentler America.” He promised to harness the creativity and generosity of Americans who stand like “a thousand points of light.” As the president enters the third year of his term, he has chosen instead to largely ignore any domestic agenda in favor of exercising his foreign policy skills.

From left, then-Senator Lowell Weicker (R-Conn.), Local 488, Bridgeport, Connecticut, then-Business Manager Frank Carroll Jr. who is now International Vice-President of the 2nd District, and Representative Chris Shays (R-Conn.) stand in 1988 in front of the monument erected in Bridgeport to honor those 28 union building tradesmen who lost their lives the previous year when the city's L'Ambiance Center collapsed during construction.

Changes around the world certainly have afforded President Bush a lot on which to concentrate his foreign policy. Mikhail Gorbachev, who came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985, set in motion what the Soviets called Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness). And the world responded.

Eastern Europe followed the Soviet’s lead. In Poland, long-time Solidarity leader, and honorary IBEW member, Lech Walesa led his trade union-turned-political party to victory in the first free elections Poland has seen since the Second World War. Czechoslovakia, Hungary, even hard line Roumania ended totalitarian communist regimes which had been in power for the last 50 years. But when freedom finally came to East Germany, and the Berlin Wall—long the most visible symbol of the Cold War—began to be dismantled in 1989, even the most cynical disbelievers accepted the momentous changes.

More...>

Page 2 of 4
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
1986-1991 A Union of Hearts and Minds

1989 More than 600 leaders from Canada's building industry attended the 21st Annual Conference of Property Forum, hosted by Canadian Building and Batiment. Japan began the world's first daily broadcasts of high definition television (HDTV) programs. An inter-American Conference of media and entertainment trade union met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.