New Haven, CT
Tuesday Morning, September 15
UE General President John Hovis opened the session at 8:30 a.m. and introduced Andrew Dinkelaker, Eastern Region president, and Carmyn Stanko, Northeast Region secretary, of the Publicity and Education committee. Stanko read the resolution "Rank-and-File Education to Build a Strong and Effective Union." Annie MacDonald (222) said that we need to be taking this education "to our high schools, so that the next generation understands rank-and-file unionism." She said a civics class in the Wallingford schools had been assigned to study the paraprofessional union’s contract struggle, and a student said to her, "Mrs. MacDonald, if you don’t get health insurance soon, we’re all going to fail our class."
Dennis Hayda (751) said coverage of the labor movement in textbooks is minimal, and urged locals to speak to classes in public schools, as he did recently. Mark Haller (506) proposed that the UE website include the UE Constitution. General Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple urged locals to be sure they’re getting up-to-date address lists to the national office so that all members receive the UE NEWS, and to make sure that the UE Steward is being distributed to all stewards and posted on workplace bulletin boards. All locals should try to get two UE-published history books – Them and Us and Labor’s Untold Story – into public school libraries, Klipple said.
Others spoke to stress the importance of using education and publicity to involve younger members and leaders. Robert Plunkett (255), one of the youngest convention delegates, spoke on the importance of educating and involving youth in the labor movement. He received a standing ovation when he concluded his remarks saying, "I’m proud to be here." Bruce Dotson (170) spoke on the success of his local’s steward training. Dee Nance (1004) said giving recognition to members who fight and win grievances in local newsletters strengthens the union. Also speaking on the resolution were Armando Robles (1110), Paul Woodman (267), Lauro Bonilla (1103), Kim Peniska (1187), and Andrew Dinkelaker (Eastern Region.) Delegates unanimously approved the resolution.
HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
Delegates then discussed the resolution "Healthcare for All." Charlene Winchell (1121) said that we should not have to choose between paying for healthcare and paying for other things. Brian Barrington (1421) said that undocumented immigrants should not be excluded from universal healthcare. Kim Peniska (1187) spoke of his own hospitalization, for which the bill was $187,000. If not for the fact that he has a union and health insurance, "I would have been S.O.L. and would have lost everything." Marie Lausch and Annie MacDonald, both of Local 222, also spoke on the resolution, which was adopted without opposition.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
Jessica Harig (203), co-convener of the resolutions committee, read the resolution "International Solidarity." Pres. Hovis then called on Robin Alexander, Director of International Affairs, to report on UE’s international work. She introduced Daniel Lafrenière, secretary-treasurer of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), who described recent struggles of public workers in Quebec. Several union groups have joined forces in a common front, which will be kicked off at a mass rally on October 29 in a Montreal stadium. He said three lessons his union has drawn from UE are "solidarity, solidarity, and solidarity without borders."
Ayano Kasamatsu, member of the Joint Action Bureau and Youth Committee of Zenroren, spoke of a peace conference hosted by Zenroren attended by UE Western Region President Carl Rosen. Ayano also thanked the UE for support of Zenroren’s struggle to close U.S. military bases in Japan.
Benedicto Martinez Orozco, co-president of Mexico’s Authentic Workers’ Front (FAT) and vice president of the National Union of Workers (UNT), said governments continue to put the burden of this economic crisis on the backs of workers. In Mexico, Martinez described how hundreds of thousands of workers are unemployed, and the government is using the military against the population. There are taxes and healthcare costs that apply to workers but do not apply to the politicians, whose salaries are "insulting to workers." The FAT is advocating a broad popular front to fight for change, based on five points: Participatory democracy, democracy in the workplace, human rights, economic democracy, and fairer distribution of wealth.
Jessica Harig read the resolution "International Solidarity." Ron McCollough (155) recalled his trip the Philippines with Robin Alexander, to attend a union conference and meet with the union president at a Stepan plant there. Bentley Derr of new Local 1008 in Laguna Niguel, CA urged the convention delegates to "coordinate with workers instead of compete." Nathanette Mayo (150) pointed out that Mexico is the number one trading partner of North Carolina, and how the FAT has played a key role in Local 150’s fight to establish collective bargaining rights for public employees. Other delegates speaking on the resolution were Carl Rosen, Marie Lausch (222), Mary Stewart (618), Ed Scanlon (222), Larsene Taylor (Eastern Region), Carmyn Stanko (267), Ron McCollough (155), Andrew Dinkelaker (Eastern Region), Lauro Bonilla (1103), Dawn Knight (170), Angaza Laughinghouse (150) and Armando Robles (1110). The resolution was unanimously adopted.
The session then adjourned so that delegates could spend the remainder of the day participating in educational workshops. The morning workshops were "Bargaining in Tough Economic Times in the Private Sector;" Preserving Jobs, Benefits and Services in the Public Sector;" "What’s Going On in the Economy;" and "Health Insurance Crisis: Defending Our Healthcare." Following the lunch break, delegates had a choice of four additional workshops: "Public Speaking;" "Dealing with Bullying in the Workplace;" "Organize: Fight for Your Rights!" and "Learning from UE History."