International President Emeritus
John J. Barry

October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

Thank you. Thank you, Ed, for that fine introduction, and thank you, brothers and sisters, for that warm welcome. It looks like the navy's going after those bastards. I'm sure you'll be glad of that.

It's a pleasure to join you here today in this beautiful city. They say that San Francisco is called "America's Favorite City." I've always preferred Pittsburgh myself, but there's no accounting for taste.

Fifteen years ago, I stood on a similar stage in Toronto, Canada, at the 33rd International Convention and told the delegates that the time for talking was over, finished, and the time for fighting and winning victories for working people was at hand. Now, in a new century and a new millennium, let history show that we answered the call.

Since that time, the IBEW has been more aggressive, has shown more fighting spirit, and has won more often than we have lost. It was not smooth. It was certainly not an uninterrupted journey upward, but there is no doubt that we have fought our way back to the peak. And once again, we are able to view the grand scope of the future before us.

We are, as we have always been, a force to be reckoned with, a force that is popular with the people we represent. And whether we stand still, move forward, or slide backward, it will not be decided by right-wing politicians, by corporate executives, or by any other outside force. It will be decided by us, the brothers and sisters of the IBEW, working together for the common good of progress.

This is what we learned through the crucible of the latter part of the 20th century. We did not let bad times destroy us or good times lure us into complacency. We planNED for the cycles of the economy through supplemental unemployment benefit funds, training and education and aggressive organizing, among other tactics, and we are able to reap the benefits of the upturns in the cycle, as well. It doesn't matter if this is your first convention or your tenth. It doesn't matter if you are a long-time officer or a rank-and-file member elected to be a delegate to this great gathering. Each of you have a part to play. Each of you is stronger because of your brothers and sisters. Each of you has a hand in the destiny of the IBEW. Never forget that.

Organizing is often cited as one of our great accomplishments over the past 15 years. If we accomplished anything, it was restoring this vital activity as our number one priority.

But more important was the fact that the sense of purpose for organizing was restored throughout the union. From the International President to the newest initiated member, brothers and sisters across the IBEW spectrum took responsibility for turning the Brotherhood around. We showed the world that we were not a complacent organization waiting for workers to come to us. We seized the moment. And in doing so, we showed the whole labor movement how rank-and-file organizing is done, well before it was taken up by other unions.

When I retired from the office of President in January, I was overwhelmed by the amount of good wishes and kind words that came my way. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the support you gave me over the years. I am proud of what we have done.

I am proud to be part of it, for each of us has had a part to play in the success of the IBEW. No one, no matter what position he or she may hold, can accomplish anything without the support of the International. This is a central principle of the trade union movement, and it is one that I tried to live by every moment of my career. The record of accomplishment over the past 15 years belongs to the IBEW, not to any individual. Thank you for working with me and being my brothers and sisters as we fought to build that record together. I would like to thank both the good employers with whom I worked with over the years. Labor unions exist to fight for the rights of workers. Conflict, where it is necessary, is part of our job description. And we have never backed down and will not ever back down when the rights of our members are threatened.

But the positive relationships we have formed over the years with management are further proof of the basic justice of our cause and the validity of workers' rights. Employers who choose the path of cooperation inevitably prosper. They have found in the IBEW a willing partner for progress and mutual gain. I would hope that the new century brings about the creation of many more working partnerships, but those who choose the path of corporate autocracy and engage in the mistreatment of workers will find the IBEW to be a formidable adversary.

In keeping with the protocol of conventions, let me request a point of personal privilege. Throughout my tenure in office, I was fortunate to have the love and support of my wonderful wife, Kitty, my sons and daughters and their spouses, my grandchildren, and now a great-grandchild, Jack. All of them, through their patience and devotion, allowed me to do the best job for the IBEW. I could have done none of it without them. And I also want to thank all my brothers and sisters in the IBEW. The greatest honor of my life was serving as your International President.

Speaker after speaker will talk about how the IBEW is the finest union in the world. It's not mere rhetoric. When you have sat where I sat and seen what I have seen, you come away with a fresh understanding and appreciation of the hundreds of thousands of dedicated, selfless, talented individuals who make up our great Brotherhood. To have had the privilege of leading such an organization cannot be summed up in mere words.

And I left office knowing that the reins of the Brotherhood were in good hands. I have known and admired Ed Hill for more than 30 years. I thank him for the many years of advice, support, and continuing friendship. In Ed Hill, the IBEW has a leader of character, vision, and unparalleled dedication. With Ed Hill at the helm, the good ship IBEW will be on a sound course for the future.

And I cannot let this occasion pass without offering my special thanks and warmest affection to another old warrior, one who departed the world two years ago. International President Emeritus Charles H. Pillard was a leader, a friend, and a fine example. He gave me numerous opportunities throughout my career in the IBEW and set me on the path to leadership. There is not a man or a woman in the IBEW today who does not owe him a debt of gratitude for all he did for his union brothers and sisters, and we miss him very much.

Thank you. Many of us are proud of what we build and maintain in manufacturing. We are proud of the skill and craftsmanship and intelligence that go into our work. But there is nothing we have built in our jobs that can equal the magnificence of the union that we have built together. The IBEW is a monument to the dignity of labor, a notion that is widely scorned today, but that must always be our cause.

Again, I say thank you. God bless you all, and stay strong and solid, now and forever. Thank you all.