A New UFCW Begins to Take Shape at 9th International Union Convention
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Your UFCW 3000 delegation to the 9th International Union Convention.
Every 5 years, the UFCW International Union holds a convention where union leaders from across the country meet to discuss the future of our union and help set its direction for growth. The 9th UFCW International Convention was held in Las Vegas last week. UFCW 3000’s delegates, elected directly by the membership of our union, proposed a slate of amendments and resolutions to create a stronger UFCW.
The purpose of any union is to build collective worker power to improve safety, wages, working conditions, and to amplify the voices of workers in our workplaces and communities. To do this on a local and national level UFCW must be accountable to its members- the essential workers who showed up every day so our communities could get the prescriptions, groceries, medical care, and of course toilet paper they needed during the lockdowns of the pandemic.
Our diverse slate of member delegates were able to make their voices heard by taking to the podiums and addressing the convention directly about the importance of reforming our UFCW union. At a convention known for speeches by top union officers, UFCW 3000’s speakers were exclusively workers in our local from a spectrum of work locations and background including Grocery Stores, Hospitals and Clinics, Cannabis industry, Retail clothing and Drug Stores, Food Processing, Laundry, and Textile workers.
UFCW 3000 Delegates Zion Grae-El, Maggie Breshears, and Jeff Terpening at the mics addressing the convention on proposed Amendments and resolutions.
Together, and with other reform minded UFCW locals, we proposed:
The need for direct elections for members of the International Executive Board; one member, one vote!
Having rank-and-file representation on the International Executive Board, just like our Executive Board here at UFCW 3000.
Committing more resources to organizing workplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and the healthcare industry.
Capping staff salaries to free up more money for member representation.
And 1st Day Strike Pay!
UFCW 3000 Delegates at the Mics adressing the convention. From Left to right and then Top to Bottome, Jeff Smith, Andy Dusablon, Monalisa Bauman, Sam Dancy, and Rob Shauger.
It was a long week, but our delegation and the delegations from other reform-minded locals won important victories including:
Stop the Merger: After six months of many UFCW Locals, including UFCW 3000, opposing the Kroger/Albertsons mega-merger, UFCW International has filed a complaint with the SEC to stop the merger.
Strike Pay Reform: Newly organized workers can now get strike benefits and UFCW Union strike benefits for workers will start on the 8th day instead of the 15th day of a strike. This is significant progress towards our 1st Day Strike Pay goal.
Health Care Division: UFCW will finally be forming a health care division to ensure that these workers have a stronger voice in our union!
Prioritize Safety: Making the safety of essential workers a priority in all contract negotiations so we can win and enforce strong safety regulations and safeguards.
A Voice on the E-Board: Constituency groups such as UFCW Women’s Network, Minority Coalition, OutReach, and United Latino’s, will now have a liaison on the international Executive board.
Resolutions were passed in strong support of: Medicare for All, rights to reproductive health care, gender-affirming healthcare, affordable housing, racial justice, taking action on climate change’s affects on our members, and other important issues to all workers.
At the end of the convention our delegation believes we were able to build unity and solidarity with members from other UFCW locals, and many more are willing to join with us to help make UFCW a member-focused organizing powerhouse! Strong unions are only possible with strong members. Because when we fight, we win!
Interested in learning more about your rights at work? START HERE!
Online trainings are open to all UFCW 3000 members looking to build a strong union in their workplace. We'll review our basic contractual and legal rights as union members and learn about special rights that apply when we are acting as Shop Stewards.
