FIRST JOBS EVER

TRADE

Top union bosses share with us their first jobs ever. SECRETS By Jenny DeHuff STARTING WORK AT a young age instills pride, responsibility and understanding the value of a dollar. It creates a sense of independence, builds confidence and helps young people get to know the real world. One thing that can be said for everyone on our Labor Power 100 – they’ve all worked hard to get where they are today – and that hard work started when they were kids. Some were earning their own money well before they could drive. But it’s those experiences that set them on the paths for the careers they enjoy today. Here are some of those jobs that were had before there was collective bargaining.

RICHARD ASKEY President, Pennsylvania State Education Association “I was a busboy at a local Big Boy restaurant when I was 15. I learned the importance of being part of a team and carrying your weight. I also learned how much I hate doing dishes.” DIANE MASTRULL President, NewsGuild Local 38010 “I worked at Chipper’s Big Dipper soft ice cream stand right around the corner from my beloved Pennsbury High School. I would go on to work at Carvel and then, all through college to pay for my schooling, I worked at Baskin-Robbins. What I learned: The soft-serve swirl has to be positioned in the cone just right to avoid it dropping into the vat of chocolate dip top when you’re trying to apply that yummy quick-to-solidify waxy coating! And working at a job you love makes even not being asked to the prom bearable.”

SHEILA IRELAND Deputy Secretary, Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor and Industry “In high school, when I was in the 10th grade, I had a typing class. I actually loved banging away on the manual typewriters we had back then. So, my teacher offered me a job helping a friend of hers who was writing her Ph.D. thesis. For $2 per hour for four hours a week, I typed her thesis. It was horrible. As a high school kid, I hadn’t the faintest idea what she was writing about, so I was bored to tears. But my parents would not let me quit, so I stuck it out. My mom kept my first check for $8, and still has it to this day.”

MATT YARNELL President, SEIU Healthcare PA “My first job was working at Long John Silver’s. I was 15 years old and made $4.05/ hr. I learned what it meant to work hard as part of a team and how important it is to develop relationships with your coworkers. It was also where I learned the power in collective action.” ESTEBAN VERA, JR. Business Manager, Laborers Local 57 “I was lucky enough to be making $2.25 an hour cleaning the PECO meters. They would come in crates into our high school. So, I would spend a couple hours a day after school there working. I learned the importance of needing a union!”

JOHN DOUGHERTY Business Manager, IBEW Local 98

“I had three jobs in high school – seven days a week – a newspaper route (Inquirer) with my brother, Kevin. We covered 10 city blocks. Most of my pay came through tips. I worked at a corner store at 3rd and Jackson stocking shelves and slicing deli meats. And I worked at the Red Garter Saloon at the Jersey Shore where

North Wildwood and Anglesea meet. Through all of it, I learned the value of a strong work ethic and how to work with people.”