UE’s 76th Convention will be held at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh from August 25-29, with the theme “UE: The Union for Everyone!” The official convention call was mailed to all UE locals in mid-April, and a follow-up mailing will be sent in May.
In a letter to UE locals accompanying the call, UE Secretary-Treasurer Andrew Dinkelaker wrote that this year’s convention theme “reflects the changes from UE’s beginnings over 83 years ago, when the membership came solely from the electrical, radio and the machine industries. Today our membership is very diverse including rail crew drivers, school and college/university employees, co-op workers, hospital employees, service contract workers to name but a few, in addition to the manufacturing workers who have been the backbone of UE for so many years.
“We have learned that no matter what sector you hail from UE’s long and vibrant history of aggressive struggle lives on. UE has always been, and will continue to be, a force for worker democracy and solidarity for everyone.”
Reflecting UE’s commitment to education, the convention will feature a full day of workshops on Tuesday, on topics including getting your message out, organizing, winning in an open shop, confronting member discrimination and harassment, and arbitration. Other workshops will address healthcare, climate change, and international solidarity. There will also be a fundraiser luncheon on Monday to sponsor training and developing women leaders.
Information about hotel reservations, travel, the subsidy program, and the anti-harassment policies and procedures for convention can be found on UE’s website at www.ueunion.org/convention. Convention delegates can also sign up for workshops online, and download a new guide to writing convention resolutions. Watch the UE website, Facebook page and Twitter account for announcements about guest speakers and actions.