Bob Alvarado Tribute Final

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Episode Transcript

Traci Dority-Shanklin (00:00):
What do you think is the most important
skill or ability a labor leaderneeds to effectively manage?

Bob Alvarado (00:06):
Above all.
I think patience, you can neverdecide that, you know, it all.
So you can never quit yourongoing education.
I run the union like a job site,the organizers and, and new
folks or apprentices.
The business agents are yourjourneymen.
the managers are fit into theforeman superintendent role, and

(00:27):
I just happen to be the projectmanager, but just like anything
else, if you see a new employeethat shows some promise, then
it's our job to make sure thatwe mentor them, that we get'em
the education that they can uselater on whether it's to become
a manager, or a trustee, we needto never stop challenging them.

(00:51):
It's a different world.
We're now faced with thechallenges from the government
on right to work and the rightto picket.
The right to do those thingsthat we do to keep our
organization strong are allunder attack right now.
And so that's a different, thingthat you need to look for and
look at.
So as you grow your crew, youneed to not stifle

(01:15):
participation, if you will.
And then the second thing is yougotta be humble.
If you're the smartest guy inthe room, when you have a staff
meeting, then you've done itwrong.
You're not the smartest guy inthe room by design.
You need to hire good people.
And you've gotta let these folksdo their job.
And when it all comes down toit, as these individuals start

(01:37):
gaining more and moreconfidence, they're gaining more
and more knowledge.
You need new ideas, you needthose young people coming up and
providing the energy that allowyour union to grow and prosper.