Resolutions the Focus on Day Three of UFCW Convention (8/20/08)

Phillip Jennings

The UFCW Convention rolled on in Montreal on Wednesday, with RWDSU members again taking an active role in the proceedings.

The daily morning RWDSU caucus began with an address by Phillip Jennings, the general secretary of UNI, a global trade union organization which counts the RWDSU as a member. Jennings discussed the way that union organizing is changing with the global economy, and the importance of signing global trade agreements with huge corporations that now operate in countries across the globe. He cited the recent RWDSU Local 1102 organizing victory at H&M stores in New York City as evidence that this strategy works. UNI helped the UFCW and RWDSU negotiate a neutrality agreement with Swedish retail chain H&M, which led to over 1,000 H&M employees joining the union.

"We are in different countries, speak different languages, and have different cultures. But at the end of the day, the members of UNI are one global union," Jennings said.

In his address to the convention later in the day, Jennings recognized the union's victory at H&M, calling for a "round of applause for the RWDSU."

UFCW Executive Vice President Pat O'Neil also joined RWDSU members for the morning caucus. O'Neil echoed the message of unity in today's global economy.

"We have a mission to improve the lives of working people, and we are all in this together, and we are all more powerful together," O'Neil said.

O'Neil also discussed the Employee Free Choice Act and the importance of the upcoming presidential elections, two of the prevalent issues at this week's convention.

At the UFCW Convention later that morning, RWDSU members again participated in a discussions and committees. Local 1102 Representative Gemma DeLeon presented resolutions from the Organizing Committee, and Local 108 President Charles N. Hall, Jr., discussed proposed resolutions from the Constitution Committee. Local 338 Representative Fallon Ager-Nelson presented resolutions from the Civil Rights and Community Action Committee.

James Shackleford Tom Stufflebean

RWDSU Delegates took to the convention floor to speak out in favor of several proposed resolutions. Southeast Council President Tom Stufflebean and Alabama and Mid-South Council Representatives Jerry Foster and James Shackleford talked about the merits of resolutions pertaining to organizing, health and safety, and support for the Employee Free Choice Act, all of which were adopted by the convention.

RWDSU Recorder Amelia Tucker spoke in favor of a resolution calling for immigration reform, describing her own experiences before she became a U.S. citizen.

Amelia Tucker

"Immigration reform is needed to help these undocumented workers, who are a vital part of our economy, emerge from the shadows and participate in their workplaces and the unions that can fight for them. We need reform to stop worker abuse," Tucker said.

Local 1102 Representative and Chair of the UFCW Women's Network Paulette Fialkoff-Amodeo accepted an award on behalf of the Institute for Women's Policy Research at a special end of day session.

"Today showed the dedication RWDSU members have for involvement in all aspects of the labor movement and the fight for worker rights," Appelbaum said. "We look forward to another two days of participating in the UFCW Convention.

Paulette Fialkoff-Amodeo (right) and UFCW President Joe Hansen