To Make Your Hotel Reservation:

DIRECT LINK ONLINE [12]

NOTE: The hotel website lists the nights that rooms are available (through the 22nd) but to book a room for the full convention, you will need to select the 23rd as your checkout date.

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

Reservations Must Be Made By August 31, 2021

RATES: Single/Double $145.00 + 14% tax ($165.30) 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, 2019 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 [13]
600 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 391-4600   ||   Fax: (412) 467-3415

Convention Location

The Wyndham Grand Hotel [13]
600 Commonwealth Ave., Pittsburgh PA, 15222 (Google maps link [15])
Phone: (412) 391-4600 || Fax: (412) 467-3415

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

Port Authority's 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.portauthority.org [16].

SuperShuttle (shared ride van service) - Airport to Wyndham Grand Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh: rates can vary, however a van share can be as low as $28.00.

To book a SuperShuttle, click this link [17] or download and use their SuperShuttle phone application [18]. At the Pittsburgh Airport, baggage claim level/car rental area is the SuperShuttle ticket counter where you can ask questions directly.

zTrip [19] - Cab service from the Airport to the Wyndham is available. Call 412-321-8100 to book or book through their phone app, zTrip [20], 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 [21].

Wyndham Valet
Valet parking with in/out privileges is available for $35/day.

Garage at Sixth and Penn
Allows for overnight parking for as low as $21/day. This will require a short walk to the hotel. No in/out privileges.

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 for the period April, May and June 2021. 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 $145.00 + 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 [23] to make special arrangements. Please remember that we must have your quarterly audit report for April, May and June 2021 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 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 77th 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 [26]. 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 [27]; however, resolutions can also be mailed to:

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

Convention workshops will take place on Tuesday, September 21. Please register for one morning and one afternoon workshop. If you are a guest and will be leaving Tuesday afternoon, there is an option to indicate that. You may also download the workshop registration form as a PDF [29], print it and mail to the national office.

First-time delegates are especially encouraged to register for the workshop Them and Us Unionism.

Workshop registration deadline is Monday, September 13, 2021.

Workshop Descriptions

Morning Workshops (2 hours)

Building Power through Organizing

Develop your skills as an organizer to build power in your own local, or in new organizing campaigns. This workshop will cover workplace mapping, one-on-one organizing conversations, and making assessments, the key skills union leaders need to engage members in fighting the boss.

Them & Us Unionism

How does UE help workers win despite the challenges of our economy? Based on our booklet of the same title, this workshop digs into the fundamental principles that guide our organization, and prepares members to put these ideas into practice. First-time convention delegates are especially encouraged to register for this workshop.

Climate Action: Creating 21st Century Jobs and Justice

From California wildfires and job loss in Erie, PA to arctic blasts in Texas and deaths from heat stroke in North Carolina, many of our locals and communities are already being impacted by changes in our climate. This workshop will explore how getting involved to address our climate crisis directly can lead to more equitable and resilient workplaces, better jobs, and a more just society.

Solidarity for Racial Justice: Bystander Intervention Training

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.

Afternoon Workshops (1 hour)

A Powerful Pricetag: Understanding health care costs

Do you have a clear sense of how much you and your family are really paying for your health care? This workshop will help members use UE’s Health Costs Worksheet to see the real cost of their health care. Members will learn how to use the worksheet with their coworkers to prepare for bargaining over health insurance or to talk about the need for Medicare for All.

Keeping the Members Informed

Keeping the members fully informed of what's going on in their workplace and their union is essential to developing and maintaining a strong UE local. This workshop will review a variety of communications tools, including printed newsletters, websites, email and text messages, for communicating directly with members. It will also discuss the benefits (and potential pitfalls) of social media.

Building Power with State and Local Political Action

The victories we win at the bargaining table can be either taken away or reinforced by the action or inaction of our government. This workshop will explore what working people can expect from federal and state legislation in the coming year, and how members can push politicians to respond to the needs of the people.

Mobilizing Members to Win Grievances

While it’s important to follow timelines and have facts straight, the best way to win a grievance is to put pressure on the boss through an involved membership. This advanced steward workshop will discuss which grievances are the best for engaging members, and how to use escalating tactics to compel management to meet the union’s demands.

Form

WHO

Eight UE members from racial and ethnic backgrounds who are currently underrepresented in UE leadership or on the UE staff to participate in a special year-long structured program beginning with a six-day program starting several days before the UE National Convention in September.

WHAT

Program participants will gain experiences and develop skills to give greater leadership within the union. The September program will focus on the skills and analysis required for leadership. Participants may be called upon to take part in short-term field work during the year as well as an additional group program.

WHEN

Arrival is Thursday, September 16, in time for a 5 pm orientation session. The program starts with a series of pre-convention meetings and trainings and continues through the Tuesday morning workshop session at the convention, September 21. Costs covered by the national union include up to six days per diem, five nights hotel, up to four days lost time, and travel to and from Pittsburgh.

HOW

Members interested in participating should email Kari Thompson – UE Director of Education kthompson@ueunion.org [30] no later than August 12th to be considered as a candidate for the program.  Locals are encouraged to sponsor additional participants. Contact Kari Thompson for more information.