This year, online registration will be available for the National Convention. Registration will be done through UE’s new “CRM” online database. The process can be done on a smartphone if necessary, but doing it on a regular laptop or desktop computer will be easier.

In order to register your delegates and alternates online, you will need a password to log into the CRM, which will be emailed to your local’s president and financial secretary the week of May 22. If you do not receive the password, please contact the National Office.

Once you have the password, this link [2] will take you to the CRM login page where you will need to log in using the email address and password you received from the National Office.

Once you have logged in, you will see a large red button labeled “2023 Convention” — click on this button, which will take you to a page called “Convention Details.” This page will list the number of delegates your local has been allotted, the number of delegates and alternates you have registered, and (once you have begun the registration process), the amount of delegate fees that are due. Below that will be a list of the delegates and alternates you have registered, and below that, separate forms to register both delegates and alternates.

To register a delegate or alternate:

1. Scroll down to the “Register Delegate” or “Register Alternate” form
2. Use the “Select Member” option to pick out the member you wish to register as a delegate or alternate. If you begin typing a name into the input, their name should show up in the options. Please note that if your membership list is not updated in our database, some of your members may not appear in this list! If you are trying to register a member who is not showing up on the list, please contact your assigned field staff.
3. Enter the member’s email address, cell phone, and mailing address. These fields are required.
4. If you know which workshops the delegate (or alternate) wishes to attend, or you want to assign them to attend specific workshops, you may select those here. If you leave them blank, you can select them later. Delegates (and alternates) will also have an opportunity to register themselves for workshops as it gets closer to convention.
5. Indicate whether the delegate (or alternate) needs childcare or interpretation into Spanish, and if they are a first-time delegate/alternate (have not attended an in-person UE convention before).
6. At the bottom of the form, please enter your name and your role in your local (e.g., “Albert Fitzgerald, Local 201”) in the “Registered by” field.
7. Click the “Submit” button.

After you have registered all of your delegates and alternates, the amount of delegate fees due will appear at the top of the page. Click on the red “Pay Delegate Fees” button to pay using a credit card. You may also mail a check to the National Office.

Once you have registered delegates and alternates, they will appear in the “Delegates” list. To view their registration details and change their workshop registrations, child care or interpretation needs, etc., click on the “View and edit” link in the right-hand column.

To Make Your Hotel Reservation:

DIRECT LINK ONLINE [5]

NOTE: The hotel website lists the nights that rooms are available (through the 21st) but to book a room for the full convention, you will need to select the 22nd as your checkout date.

OR CALL: 1-888-317-0197, specify “Wyndham Grand”

Reservations Must Be Made By August 31, 2023

RATES: Single/Double $154.00 + 14% tax ($175.56) per night

To make reservations, you must either do so online or call the 888 number listed above and give your detailed information to the hotel as soon as possible. Cut-off date for reservations is August 31, 2023 at 5pm Eastern Time. When calling, identify yourself as a UE member making reservations for the “UE National Convention” to receive the convention rate. Have all of your information handy pertaining to Check-in, Check-out, and type of room (single, double).

Reservations must be guaranteed with the hotel by using the following methods:

A major credit card.

Prepaying with a check. The check must be issued by your local, the hotel will not accept personal checks. Your check must arrive at the hotel two weeks prior to your arrival, or your check will not be accepted.

(Note that if a debit card is used at check-in to pay for a sleeping room, the card will be charged immediately for the full amount and an additional $50.00 per night for incidentals.)

Charges for incidentals upon arrival

If you pay for the room by check, the hotel will still require $50.00 per night for incidentals which can be covered by cash/credit or debit. If using a debit card, the entire bill for incidentals will be charged immediately (if you are staying 5 nights, $250.00 will be immediately debited from your account). Any incidentals not used will be refunded to the debit card approximately 3-5 business days after check-out.

Check-in time is 4:00PM Consequently, morning or early afternoon arrivals may be subject to slight delays before room assignment. The bell staff will be happy to store baggage and appreciate tips.

Check-out time is 12:00PM (noon).

You will be charged for the first night if reservations are not canceled 24 hours prior to the 4:00 PM (EST) check-in time.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

The Wyndham Grand Hotel [6]
600 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 391-4600 || Fax: (412) 467-3415

Convention Location

The Wyndham Grand Hotel [6]
600 Commonwealth Ave., Pittsburgh PA, 15222 (Google maps link [8])
Phone: (412) 391-4600 || Fax: (412) 467-3415

Transportation from Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) (30 min/17 miles)

Airport Flyer (28X) - a public transportation option, is available at the airport bus stop on the lower level for $2.75 one way and arrives twice an hour. Fare is subject to change and exact fare is required. The 28X schedule can be found at www.rideprt.org [9] (direct link to PDF here [10]).

SuperShuttle (shared ride van service) - Airport to Wyndham Grand Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh: rates can vary, and can be reserved at www.supershuttle.com [11] or through their smartphone app [12]. Service rates vary.

Uber and Lyft are also available from the Pitsburgh Airport to the Wyndham Grand Hotel. Download their app on your phone through your App Store (iphone) or Google Play Store (android). Service rates vary.

zTrip [13] - Cab service from the Airport to the Wyndham is available. Call 412-321-8100 to book or book through their phone app, zTrip [14], where you can get a quote for your ride. Service rates may vary over time and gratuity is not included.

Driving Directions to the Wyndham Grand Hotel / Parking

Driving

From the NORTH — via I-79 SOUTH
Take I-79 S toward Pittsburgh     
Slight left onto I-279 S (signs for Pittsburgh)     
Take exit 1A on the left toward Fort Duquesne Blvd     
Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Ft Duquesne Blvd
& merge onto Ft Duquesne Blvd     
Turn right onto Stanwix St     
Take the 1st right onto Penn Ave    
Take the 1st right onto Commonwealth Pl - Wyndham Hotel will be on the right.

From the SOUTH - via I-79 N
Take I-79N to I-279 Pittsburgh.
Follow  “from the SOUTHWEST/Airport” directions.
    
From the SOUTHWEST/Airport - via I-79 N
Follow signs to I-279 N to PITTSBURGH (Fort Pitt Tunnel and Bridge).
Enter the Fort Pitt Tunnel in the left lane; stay in that lane.
At the light Turn LEFT onto COMMONWEALTH PL. - Wyndham Hotel will be on the right.

From the EAST - via I-76W & I-376W
Take I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) and exit on to I-376W towards Pittsburgh.
Take the STANWIX STREET exit, EXIT 70D, on the LEFT.
Turn LEFT onto FORT PITT BLVD.
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto COMMONWEALTH PL. - Wyndham Hotel will be on the right.

Parking

Parking rates differ lot to lot in the city. There is a great web app that you can use to look at an exhustive list of parking lots, spaces available, and rates here: www.parkpgh.org [15].

Apps such as iPark & Spothero offer options for many of the downtown garages. Go Moblie PGH offers on-street parking options.

Wyndham Valet
Valet parking with in/out privileges is available for $38/day.

Registered delegates and alternates for whom an email address is provided will be sent a unique link to register for workshops online. Delegates without an email address may register by printing out and mailing or faxing this form [17] to the National Office (fax: 412-471-8999). The deadline to register for workshops is Tuesday September 5, 2023.

MORNING SESSION

Steward Basics

This introductory steward workshop will address steward rights and responsibilities, and help prepare stewards for first step meetings.

Climate Justice Creates Good Jobs

The changing climate is already impacting the jobs of many UE members. Learn about our Green Locomotive Project, and discuss new opportunities to improve worker health and safety, and grow our union among workers doing jobs in climate-friendly sectors.

Telling the Union’s Story

During issue and contract campaigns, it’s vital to be able to tell the union’s story in engaging ways. This workshop will share best practices for crafting the right message and for using videos to spread that message more broadly.

Solidarity for Racial Justice: Bystander Intervention

It’s not always easy to know what to do when someone does or says something racist. As UE continues to unite all workers regardless of race, this workshop will build member confidence to stop harassment when it occurs, at work, within the union, or in your community.

Building Union Power, Part 1

What does it take to motivate members to get involved in our organization? A strong workplace issue campaign with creative tactics that put pressure on the boss.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Union Solidarity in Practice

This introductory workshop will help UE members learn how we put the values of “Them & Us Unionism” into practice, and how to bring this home to your local.

Building Strike Power

Withholding our labor is workers’ most powerful tool, and using it successfully requires a lot of preparation. This workshop will help members consider when and why they should strike, what locals need to do to prepare...and how to win.

Labor Law is Not Your Friend

In UE, we know that our labor laws were written to give the boss an advantage, not workers. This workshop will explore UE’s approach to the law, including the pitfalls of arbitration and the NLRB, as well as our ability to win anyway!

Building Union Power, Part 2

Identify new leaders and move members into action with skills from this workshop. Members will develop effective one-on-one conversation practices, and discuss how to build and use member lists to mobilize our power at work.

The National Union, as approved by the General Executive Board (GEB) in January 2001, offers to eligible UE Locals convention hotel and lost time reimbursement for one delegate per local.

Remember, this is a reimbursement for expenses. Locals are expected to pay up front and the National Union will reimburse you for qualified expenses. See details below.

Qualifications

To qualify for the above convention reimbursement subsidies UE Locals must prove that they have no more than $10,000 in their General Fund accounts, which includes checking, savings and CDs. These eligibility requirements will be determined and verified with the information that is submitted on the Local’s quarterly audit report [18] for the period April, May and June 2023. It is very important for all Locals to be up-to-date in the filing of these quarterly audit reports. There will be no other acceptable documentation for determining and verifying eligibility.

Reimbursement Subsidy Amount

Reimbursement will be made for four (4) days lost-time and four (4) days hotel room at the single/ double room rate of $154.00 + 14% tax. For delegates unable to drive in Sunday morning, a hotel subsidy will be paid for a fifth night. As in the past, the delegate must attend all of the convention sessions to have the subsidies paid.

To Receive Reimbursement

Subsidy forms will be available at the convention and Locals are to submit these completed forms with a voucher and hotel bill. Locals will have a 90-day time limit (from the last day of convention) to submit their subsidy reimbursement requests to the National Union. All requests received after this 90-day period will be denied.

Locals that are not in the financial position to follow these guidelines should contact General Secretary Treasurer Andrew Dinkelaker at 412-471-8919 [19] to make special arrangements. Please remember that we must have your quarterly audit report [18] for April, May and June 2023 for any special arrangements to be considered.

UE General Executive Board - January 23-25, 2019 - Previously approved by regions during their Fall 2018 council meetings

Anti-Harassment Principles

Building rank-and-file democracy and solidarity demands that we prioritize respect for each other so that all may fully participate in meetings, union activities, and the broader struggle.

All members, officers, and staff have the right to participate in the affairs of the union free of harassment and discrimination regardless of sex, gender identity, race, disability, age, religious views and any other status protected by state or federal law. Harassment within our union demoralizes and weakens the solidarity necessary among members and workers to collectively protect and defend ourselves against the organized forces of the system and employers that are against us. We all have an obligation to challenge and overcome behaviors that divide us as a working class. UE will not tolerate any forms of harassment, bullying, discrimination, or violence in any level of the union, and violations may result in actions being taken against members, officers, or staff.

Our Responsibility

It is all of our responsibility to create and preserve an environment of dignity and respect at all levels, and not to passively observe, nor encourage or participate in behavior which is unwelcome, unwanted, uninvited, inappropriate, or illegal. It is all of our responsibility not to partake in words or actions which humiliate, insult, or degrade any person. This may include, but is not limited to, unwanted comments, slurs, racist, sexist, transphobic, or homophobic jokes, offensive pictures or posters, bullying or intimidation, graffiti, non-consensual physical contact of any kind, inappropriate remarks about a person’s appearance or personal life, unwelcome sexual advances or demands, suggestive looks or gestures, mockery of religious practices or customs or desecration of religious imagery.

Anti-Harassment Procedures

Ombuds and the national office anti-harassment coordinator(s) shall be voluntary positions, as selected in the manner prescribed below.

Ombuds shall work during national conventions and regional council meetings or other national or regional meetings. The national office anti-harassment coordinator shall assist with complaints made in between meetings and may be, also, called upon to assist those situations which occur during national or regional meetings.

Expenses and per diem shall be paid for this work in accordance with UE Constitution and policy for GEB members.

Each person who agrees to be in one of these positions will receive the training necessary in order that the approach and the tools necessary for the work are done are in a manner consistent with the UE Constitution and UE Anti-Harassment Principles and Responsibilities.

If someone believes they are being harassed during, or in between, UE regional or national meetings because of their race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression they should take the following action:

1. If possible, make it clear verbally or in writing to the harasser that such inappropriate behavior is not welcome.
2. If the inappropriate behavior persists the individual harassed may approach the designated ombud(s), or national office coordinator if in between meetings, who will investigate and attempt to resolve the matter informally. Request for assistance from an ombud or national office anti-harassment coordinator may be asked for right away if the complainant is unwilling to approach the harasser directly.
3. Each incident will be handled confidentially and quickly. Where the safety of any individual is compromised or a criminal act is alleged to have occured, the appropriate authorities will be contacted.
4. When the matter cannot be resolved informally the person harassed may file a written complaint with the national office anti-harassment coordinator, who will issue a recommendation to the National Officers and/or the GEB to resolve the issue. In the event that an individual disagrees with the ombudsperson or anti-harassment coordinator’s determination of a matter, they may request a hearing which will be conducted in accordance with the principles described in Article 24, Section B. of the UE’s Constitution and By-Laws. Staff may use the grievance procedure available to them to dispute disciplinary action taken against them by the officers.
   Reprimands, suspensions, or expulsions from union office or membership, or in the case of UE staff discipline and discharge, in accordance with the procedures outlined in the collective bargaining agreement, may also be considered depending on the circumstances of the situation(s).
5. The national office anti-harassment coordinator and ombuds for the national convention and meetings shall be appointed by the General President subject to approval by the GEB, and for Regional Council and other regional meetings by the Regional President subject to approval by the Regional Executive Board.
6. The national union shall provide the designated ombuds with the training, forms and other material necessary to carry out this procedure. The ombudsperson or national office anti-harassment coordinator shall also provide those making a complaint with such forms and material.
7. During regional and national meetings the designated ombud(s) will be announced at the start of the meeting and these Principles, Responsibilities, and Procedures distributed to each attendee.

UE Policy [22] is set by UE national conventions, which discuss, debate and adopt policy resolutions submitted by UE locals, regions and the General Executive Board.

Resolutions sent to the convention for consideration need not be complicated or written in imposing language. As in everything else, since “the members run this union,” the membership should feel free to help set the policies of the union through action taken by their own locals — and in their own words.

Each resolution consists of two parts — the body and the “resolves.” The body of the resolution explains why the issue is important, and the resolves are the action(s) that UE members wish to see taken on the issue.

The Body: Making Your Case

While other unions often use “whereas” to introduce each paragraph of the body, in UE we use simple paragraphs for the body. The body should make the case why this issue is important to UE members, and to working people in general. Elements that contribute to a persuasive body include:

1. A general statement of the problem or issue (“Privatization destroys unions which drives down wages, benefits and working conditions”).
2. Experiences of UE locals (“The members of UE Local 222, Sub-local 80 in the Woodbridge public school district won an important battle in 2011, overturning the actions of the local board of education in privatizing work previously done by four custodians represented by the union”). If your local or your members have direct experience with an issue, write about that experience! (though make sure you have permission before using any particular member’s name — UE policies go up on the UE website!)
3. Research or statistics, preferably from a reputable source (“According to a February, 2019 study by the Economic Policy Institute, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024 would lift pay for nearly 40 million workers”).
4. Recent events (“Wide public support for the wave of teacher strikes over the last two years demonstrates that Americans value the public sector, and will support unions that act in militant ways to defend it”).

The Resolves: Taking Action!

The resolves section should begin with “Therefore, be it resolved that this 78th UE Convention,” followed by a numbered list of actions that the convention wishes take on the issue, with lettered sub-points as appropriate. Generally, the actions take one of two forms:

1. Taking a position (“Opposes the privatization and contracting-out of public services and facilities” or “Supports state legislative moratoriums on contracting out public-sector work”).
2. Calling on the union to do something (“Calls on the union at all levels to educate our members and our communities about the expanding use of inmate labor to replace public sector workers”), or demanding that the government do something (“Demands that Congress declare a moratorium on all new federal privatization”). In some cases the convention will “direct” the national union to do something, but the convention cannot “direct” locals and regions.

Updating Existing Resolutions

If you are updating an existing resolution, you can copy the text from your local’s UE Policy book, or visit ueunion.org/ue-policy [22]. Here are some ideas for how to best update a resolution:

1. Read through the existing body, and remove or update anything that is no longer timely or accurate — a lot can change in two years!
2. Add an example or two from your own local to the body, or reach out to other locals who might have experience with the same issue.
3. Add or delete resolves based on your knowledge of bills or actions that are pending.

How to Submit Your Resolution

Resolutions must be sent to the General Secretary Treasurer so that they arrive no less than one month prior to the convention in order to be considered by the convention. The preferred format is to email a Word document to gst@ueunion.org [23]; however, resolutions can also be mailed to:

UE Attn: General Secretary-Treasurer
4 Smithfield Street, 9th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2226

Given the number of newer delegates that are expected at the UE national convention this year, the National Officers and General Executive Board thought it was important to share information about the general organizational process UE has developed over the years for the election of national officers.

Per the UE Constitution [25] any UE member in good standing for a year or more is eligible to run for UE’s three top general officer positions - General President, General Secretary Treasurer and Director of Organization. The responsibilities and duties of all three general officers are outlined in the National Constitution along with their salaries.

It has been typical out of respect to UE principles of democratic rank and file unionism that any eligible member interested in running as a candidate would reach out to locals in the lead up to the convention to get the word out and secure support for their candidacy. Accordingly, it has been standard UE practice for the General Secretary Treasurer, upon request by any candidate for national office, to provide address labels for all the locals in UE so that if they do not already know everyone they can mail out campaign letters.

At the convention itself, it has been common for candidates to make introductions and campaign between sessions and during social events as they are not provided time on the convention floor or in other convention meetings to actively campaign.

Unlike nomination and election officers in UE Locals, that would typically take place over a two step process of taking nominations at one meeting and holding elections at a later date, the National Union nomination and election of officers takes place one right after the other during the main convention program late Wednesday afternoon.

During the nomination process, time is permitted to the delegates making the nomination or seconding the nomination to speak for a few minutes rather that just making a motion to nominate or second the candidate. In past conventions we would see that they would use their time to give a final summation of who the candidate is, why they are running and why others should support them with their vote. Many times this is planned out in advance by the candidate who notifies the convention chair before the elections take place as to who they want to be called upon to nominate and second them Each candidate nominated is asked if they accept or decline the nomination. Typically after the election is held the prevailing candidate is provided the opportunity to say a few words before the convention chair moves on to the next item.

Per the UE Constitution the general officers are sworn in after the elections and the two year term commences on November 1st and ending October 31st of the second year.