Members Attend a Host Of Panels And Gain a Wealth Of Information
Through the spring and summer months, the Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO hosted its annual Regional Victory Conferences throughout the country in order for members to hear from their officers and representatives, participate, and learn about the issues facing workers and union membership.
Each conference started off with a welcome from UWUA National President Michael Langford and regional representatives, and continued on to hold a number of panels with influential speakers and discussions on topics important to union members.
Reggie Davis, Committee Chairperson/UWUA Region I National representative and speakers discussed the importance of engaging the young voter in a time when the voting populace seems primarily held by older voters. Further discussion on engaging voters continued, revolving around voter suppression and the challenges in motivating those with obstacles standing between them and the polls.
Roberta Reardon, Founding Co-President, SAG-AFTRA and former Vice President, AFL-CIO discussed economics and the raising of wages for workers in a time when wages seem resistant to improvement.
Labor Lawyer and author Robert Schwartz spoke of using the law creatively to wage effective contract campaigns with knowledge on the ins and outs of strikes, lockouts, and legal rights. In a second presentation, he discusses new thinking on “Just Cause” and winning employee discipline cases.
Steve Wyatt, labor consultant, spoke on the global economy and its impact on working families, while Pat LaMarche, national political activist and author of Daddy, What’s the Middle Class?, discussed a perspective on today’s middle class and the standard of living in a time wages have stagnated. Updates and information on the Utility Workers Military Assistance Program was provided by Committee Chairperson/Business Manager Local Richard Passarelli.
The individual conferences had their own discussions and guest speakers as well.
Region I, held in Atlantic City, New Jersey talked Density, Power & Politics with Labor Consultant Steve Wyatt. Region II in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, discussed the Coal-Fired Electric Generation Facilities Deactivtaion Act with Pam Snyder, State Representative, and spoke with Rick Mirabito, State Representative. Region III in Columbus, Ohio had a number of guest speakers including Jennifer Garrison, Candidate, OH 6th Congressional District and Ed Fitzgerald, Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate.
In a time when union activity and education is imperative, the regional Victory Conferences are a great way for members to learn more about the issues that matter to them, and what they can do to be more proactive and better informed.
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