Left, Susan Hickman, Local 799, and Ray Greenwood, Local 170 in the political action workshop. Right, Kamal Ahamada of the French labor federation CGT addresses the convention.
The UE Convention sessions of Tuesday, September 27 dealt with international labor solidarity, but the major portion of the day was devoted to two rounds of educational workshops. President John Hovis opened the Tuesday morning session by calling representatives of the Resolutions Committee to the stage. Andrew Dinkelaker called on Barrett Gough and Ali Goguen, Local 255, to read the resolution "International Solidarity." Hovis then recognized International Affairs Director Robin Alexander and international guests. Alexander introduced Kamal Ahamada of the CGT labor federation in France, who expressed his organization's solidarity. Meghna Sukumar, another young activist, spoke for the New Trade Union Initiative of India (NTUI), another UE ally who helped members of Local 735 resolve their most recent negotiations with Autoline, an auto parts company based in India.
Jenifer Lara, Local 893, was a participant in the May 2011 UE delegation to Mexico. She expressed her pride in helping UE to "reach out to workers around the world" as we all fight attacks on workers' rights. Antonio Bautista of the FAT helped to host the UE delegation in Nayarit, Mexico in May. He said such exchanges are important because they help workers understand the labor situation in each other's countries, but also "so that our bosses can see that we have friends not only in Mexico but in other countries." He thanked UE for organizing the international meeting of young labor activists.
Victor Salas, a young leader of the FAT's metal workers division, STIMAHCS, is working in Massachusetts this fall, staying with Peter Knowlton, and surveying fishery and packinghouse workers. He said all he knew about the United States was the Hollywood movie version, but he is now seeing the realities of working-class America. "When I return to Mexico, Hollywood movies can say whatever they want, but I now know the true spirit and greatness of this country is in you, the workers."
FAT national leader Benedicto Martinez then addressed the convention, reminding delegates that UE's fraternal relationship with the FAT is now 19 years old. He said the cooperation of the FAT with UE, and particularly Local 715, in organizing the DMI plant in Mexico City is an important milestone in our alliance. UE has played a central role in the tri-national solidarity alliance (Canada, Mexico and U.S.) defending independent Mexican unions from government attacks of the past two years.
He reported on recent developments in the Mexican government's attack on the electrical workers (SME.) Members of that union have for a year maintained an encampment in the Zocolo, the central square in Mexico City to protest the near-destruction of their union. In the past two weeks a campaign of international phone calls to the government has resulted in new negotiations between the government and SME.
Meanwhile workers across Mexico are threatened by proposed changes to the federal labor laws that would rob workers of the right to strike, job security, and result in more outsourcing. In response, the FAT and other unions are making preparations for solidarity pressure on the government by unions around the world.
Delegates Paul Bergles Local 1172; Brian Barrington, Local 1421; and Armando Robles, Local 1110 participate in the workshop on state budget crises.
Angaza Laughinghouse of Local 150 spoke next on his local's involvement in international solidarity. Local 150 members have traveled to Brazil and South Africa building links with workers in those countries and have been involved in the U.S. and World Social Forums. Recently Local 150 hosted, in Raleigh, a national meeting of Grassroots Global Justice (GGJ), a U.S. coalition of progressive organizations involved in the Social Forum movement. "And we plan to pay another visit to the Mexican consulate," said Laughinghouse, in support of unions. Mexican and Canadian unions have also supported the fight for bargaining rights by Locals 150, 160 and 170.
The morning session recessed at 10:00 so that delegates could attend two rounds of educational workshops. The workshop topics were "Understanding the Budget Crisis," "Arbitration: How To When Forced To," "Hybrid Pension Plans and 401(k)s," "Bargaining Healthcare," "Shop Floor Tactics," "Organize: Fight for Your Rights," and "Using Political Action to Protect Jobs, Wages, and Benefits."
Following the second round of workshops, the convention reconvened at 4:30 p.m.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
President Hovis called members of the Publicity and Education Committee to report to the Convention, led by the committee's co-conveners Bryan Martindale (Local 1421) and Antwon Gibson (Local 610). They introduced committee members Sharry Niedfeldt (Local 1161), Neal Jordan (Local 770) and Tom Skwaryk (Local 506) to read the resolution, "Membership Education is Essential to Rank-and-File Unionism."
Jim Wrenn, Local 150, spoke in support of the resolution and especially UE efforts to teach and publicize labor history. He said Local 150 members have been involved in such efforts in North Carolina, including the recent placement of a state historic marker commemorating the 1946 tobacco leaf house organizing campaign in Eastern North Carolina by the Food, Tobacco and Agricultural Workers (FTA), a progressive rank-and-file union that was allied with UE. Roger Zaczyk said Local 506 gives the UE Steward Handbook and other education materials to all new shop stewards. "It's invaluable," he said, adding that the UE Leadership Guide is something he uses all the time.
Lauro Bonilla, Local 1103, emphasized the value of training materials such as the UE Steward in Spanish. "We do grievances in English and Spanish," he said. The education program is helpful for teaching younger workers who otherwise may not know anything about unions, said Paul Bergles, Local 1172. Armando Robles, Local 1110, said it is important to get education about labor into the schools.
"We take education very seriously," said Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple, and the union is working to make more information available on the internet as well as in the UE News. He talked about recent improvements in the UE News and urged locals to promptly get the national office names and addresses of new members so they'll receive the UE new member's packet as well as the UE News. Locals should also get the national office an updated database of their entire membership every few months to ensure that all members receive the union newspaper.
The delegates unanimously approved the membership education resolution.
President Hovis again called on the Resolutions Committee whose members Barrett Gough and Ali Goguen read the resolution, "Solidarity with Zenroren and the People of Japan." Andrew Dinkelaker introduced a video of UE solidarity actions in the wake of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan. Robin Alexander then called on Marie Lausch, who initiated many of the solidarity actions including the video. She spoke of the emotional impact of the Japanese disaster, and of reading dispatches from Zenroren on the impact it was having on union members, and wanted to take action, including fundraising for Zenroren's relief efforts as well as messages of support. Barrett Gough talked about his trip to Japan at the invitation of Zenkyo, the teacher section of Zenroren, where he also met with teachers from France and Korea.
Kenichi Igarashi of Zenroren then spoke to the convention, with Ichiro Saeki providing translation. In the past two years there has been growing solidarity between UE and Zenroren, Igarashi said, including Zenroren delegations visiting Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York City in conjunction with the UN nuclear disarmament conference; and visits to Japan by Marie Lausch and Barrett Gough. He described the economic impact of the March 11 disaster, which has shut down electronics and precision machining plants in the northeast, hurt the fishing industry, and led to cuts in needed public services. He described Zenroren's relief efforts, which sent 10,000 volunteers into the hard-hit areas. He invited UE Young Activists to a big youth rally in October in Tokyo, and presented Bruce Klipple with a gift from Zenroren to UE.
The resolutions on International Solidarity and Solidarity with Zenroren were unanimously adopted. Dave Chadwell, Local 506, then read an article on the adverse impact on worker's rights of the anti-labor legislation passed recently by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, giving Boeing and other companies the right to move plants in retaliation against workers exercising their union rights.
The convention recessed until Wednesday morning.