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NARRATOR: It was a frustrating few years for Mike Pushko,
Andrew Reese and hundreds of their fellow lawyers in the New Jersey Attorney Generalís
office. Their unionized co-workers were getting raises
and better benefits---while the lawyersí paychecks were lagging behind.
Over the past four years the secretaries in our office and other state workers have received
13 percent raises. Over that time the attorneys have not received any raise at all.
NARRATOR: Like a growing number of professionals, the
attorneys knew that all workers, even lawyers, are better protected when they unionize.
You sort of see who the haves and the have-nots are, and itís the people in the union who
are the haves and the peopleÖ that arenít in the union are the have-nots.
You have almost no power as an individual, but if you join forces youíre increasing
your strength.
NARRATOR: The attorneys chose the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers to help them organize. The IBEW represents more than 730-thousand
workers in the US and Canada-- tens of thousands of them in professional occupations outside
the electrical industry.
They wanted respect in the workplace, they wanted to be treated fairly and the promises
that were made to them needed to be kept.
NARRATOR: The organizing campaign wasnít easy.
But the attorneys realized the best way to achieve respect and dignity on the job was
to support each other and band together. You really do have to make that effort to
stick together over timeÖ. You really need that commitment that I believe
weíve had this time. And the commitment has also been on the other side with IBEW
NARRATOR: Since the campaign started, the attorneys
have become more secure on the job, and are negotiating for higher pay and more of a say
in workplace rules. Theyíre working toward the day when their
employer can no longer change wages, benefits and working conditions at will.
The fact that weíre organized means the state has to bargain with us if they want to change
any of the employment terms and conditions so having that protection really means a lot
to us.
Iím thanked at least once a week for by people thanking me for the work Iíve done trying
to organize the office.
NARRATOR: These attorneys now have the proof thatóeven
for professionals--joining together-- for mutual aid and protection can benefit any
worker. I believe the IBEW is the right choice for
just about any profession. Ö or any kind of group of workers that want to be organized.
We embrace the new people coming in because we know what itís like to have a contract
and we know what its going to be like to Öbe a part of the IBEW.