Continuing our special Martin Luther King Jr. episode, America’s Work Force Union Podcast welcomed Sylvester Taylor, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) and 34-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 in St. Louis. Taylor shared his experience and journey in the trades and how the union has led him to be a leader in the IBEW’s efforts to improve diversity and inclusion.
Taylor's career began in an unexpected place—a hotel front desk. Struggling to make ends meet, he was inspired by his uncle, a successful IBEW member, to pursue a career in the trades. Despite initial rejections, Taylor's persistence paid off, and he eventually joined the IBEW, marking the start of his journey. His leadership roles within the union, his election to the Missouri House of Representatives and helping to co-found Local 1’s branch of the EWMC underscore his commitment to advocacy and change.
Taylor's experience in the IBEW has been transformative, not just for him but for the communities he serves. He emphasized the importance of opportunity. By providing a new path to the trades for minority and other underrepresented workers, they are provided the opportunity to improve their lives and make a difference. His work in diversity and inclusion aims to ensure that underserved communities have access to the trades, which he sees as a pathway to the middle class.
As an apprenticeship ambassador under the Biden administration, Taylor's efforts have led to significant increases in diversity within IBEW apprenticeship programs. Some of the classes now boast over 30 percent representation from minority groups. Taylor said changing the landscape of diversity in the trades will take time. He stressed the importance of persistence and the need for continuous effort, noting that progress is being made, albeit slowly.
Listen to the full episode of America's Workforce to learn more about Taylor's efforts and the impact of diversity in the trades.