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Messages from Teresa
Iverson, President,
and Blaine Sherfinski, Secretary/Treasurer
UFCW International
Convention - Constitutional Amendments Presented
By Blaine Sherfinski, Secretary/Treasurer
At the recently-concluded UFCW International Convention, I was
privileged to be able to speak to the convention concerning the
merits of a constitutional amendment that our local union submitted
for changes to the UFCW International Constitution. Our proposed
amendment (amendment proposal No. 35) was intended to put everyone,
local unions and the International Union, on the same level playing
field. Currently, the local unions must submit any proposed
amendments ninety days in advance of the convention, while the
International Union may submit changes up to and including during
the convention week.
Our amendment would have required all parties to submit proposed
amendments ninety days in advance of the convention. It also would
have required that “not less than 20 days prior to the convening of
the convention, the International President shall provide all local
unions copies of the proposed amendments.”
As I stated to the delegates, this was designed to eliminate one
very frustrating component of the convention process, namely, not
having sufficient time to properly study and research the proposed
amendments prior to taking action concerning them on the floor of
the convention. Currently, delegates receive the proposed amendments
on Monday morning, with action being required as early as the next
day. I have had the good fortune of attending our International
Conventions dating back to my first one in 1977, all with the same
frustration of having to make very important decisions without
adequate time to study and research the proposals.
Unfortunately, the delegates did not approve our amendment this
time, and if I am fortunate enough to be a delegate to the next
convention in 2013, I will strongly urge our local to make the
proposed amendment again.
Sign a pledge card today
supporting the Employee Free Choice Act!
Dear Member:
A union at work has made the American Dream possible for millions of
workers and their families. UFCW members and other union members
earn higher wages and have better benefits than our non-union
counterparts.
But our union advantage, from health care to wages, is put to the
test every time we go to the bargaining table. We need more workers
on our side of the table to end the constant clamor from companies
for concessions. We need more workers on our side to have the power
to raise living and working standards in our industries. The
Employee Free Choice Act will put the numbers on our side.
Employee Free Choice is federal legislation that says if a
majority of workers freely choose to sign up for union
representation, their company must honor that choice. It is a
simple, fair process that prohibits companies from using legal
maneuvering to deny workers their freedom to have a union.
But in the big picture, the Employee Free Choice Act is really about
protecting our jobs, raising our wages, and securing better
benefits. It’s about expanding middle-class jobs and creating more
opportunities for our kids.
The UFCW and every other major union are mobilizing one million
members from coast to coast to stand together for Employee Free
Choice.
Every candidate for office - at every level - will hear our voice
and we will hold them accountable to carry through on their promises
to change our country in a way that builds a stronger middle class,
where working people can buy a home, depend on affordable family
health care, and send their children to college. And it begins with
Employee Free Choice.
Over the next few months, your Union Rep and Stewards will be
speaking with you about pledging your support for the Employee Free
Choice Act. We are asking you to provide your signature so
candidates will know that you, a UFCW member, demand their
leadership to bring good jobs, affordable health care, and a union
voice to workers across the country.
When we stand together, we can make a difference!
TERESA IVERSON
President
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