RWDSU Members Mobilize at 2011 Six-State Conference (10/18/11)

RWDSU members from western Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia joined together in Huntington, West Virginia this past weekend for the annual Six-State Conference. Mobilizing members for organizing, political action, and strength in the workplace – including tried and true methods and the use of new tools like social media -was at the top of the agenda.

Delegates also participated in health and safety forums and workshops to help members stay active politically year-round. Delegates joined SEIU activists outside of Huntington’s City Hall to protest proposed cuts to public employee jobs including police and firefighters, and attacks on workers’ pensions in Huntington (below).

RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum (above) addresses rally at Huntington's City Hall.

RWDSU Political Director Ademola Oyefeso (left) with West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenneth Perdue at the Huntington rally. Perdue also addressed the Six-State Conference, discussing the current attacks on working people throughout the nation, and how union members need to communicate with each other and everyone they know about the importance of defending workers' rights.

Daniel Figuera (right), an RWDSU Mid-South Council member who works at Fresh Mark in Salem, Ohio, discusses health and safety problems and solutions during the workshop presented by RWDSU Health and Safety Director Steve Mooser (left) and RWDSU Representative Fred Jiminez.

John Beck of the Michigan State University Labor Education Department gave a presentation on mobilizing members for more power at the barganing table, during grievances, and during labor disputes. Beck's presentation included examples using creativity to get the union message out at the worksite, including windshield shades like the one pictured above.

RWDSU Secretary-Treasurer Jack Wurm (above) discussed the importance of working people sticking together and fighting back as corporate-greed fueled attacks on workers' rights have come to the forefront.

During the health and safety workshop, Maria Tucker (right) and Kristina Kourouniotis, RWDSU members employed at Fresh Mark in Masillion, Ohio, used "ouch" stickers to show where they have sustained injuries, aches or pains.

UFCW Deputy Political Director Mike Bocchini addressed the conference, and pulled back the veil on the Republican attacks on workers' rights. His presentation drew a direct line from deep-pocketed corporate interests to Republican politicians, shattering the myth that the public is behind their efforts to curtail workers' rights and weaken unions.

A year after RWDSU Local 220 members at Mott's in Williamson, New York, settled their strike after securing a fair contract, Six-State Conference delegates honored their couragous action to defend all working people.

RWDSU Local 220 member Jeffery Thomas reads up on the activities going on throughout the union during a break between sessions.

RWDSU members paid a visit to Occupy Huntington, one of the many movements that has grown out of the Occupy Wall Street protests as the anti-corporate greed message spreads across the globe.