On September 17, during the UE National Convention, delegates demonstrated against the Bush administration’s "no-match" policy of ordering employers to fire workers when there are discrepencies in their Social Security records. UE members in Chicago have also joined in protests against the Bush rule and have reached out to unorganized workers who have been threatened by their employers under the policy.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
President John Hovis called the convention back to order at 2:00 p.m. and called on Western Region President Carl Rosen and Local 506 President Frank Fusco, co-conveners of the Constitution Committee. Brother Fusco read the proposed constitutional amendments, all of which were unanimously adopted by the delegates. The amendments will now be referred to each UE local for ratification vote by the rank-and-file members.
WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
TUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION, SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Following the afternoon workshops, the convention re-convened in full session at 4:00. The resolution on “International Solidarity” was read by resolution committee member Sandy Coulter, Local 767. President Hovis then called on UE International Affairs Director Robin Alexander to report to the delegates on UE’s international work.
TUESDAY MORNING SESSION, SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
John Hovis called to order the convention to order at 9:05 a.m. and recognized co-conveners Andrew Dinklelaker, and Carmyn Stanko of the Publicity and Education Committee, who read the resolution and report of their committee,11“Education for the Future.”
MONDAY AFTERNOON SESSION, SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
John Hovis called the convention back into session at 2:00. The resolution on immigrant rights was approved.
The resolution, “Organize the Unorganized” was then read by Larsene Taylor, Local 150: and Bob Rudek, Local 1111.
Gwen Gruber, Local 896 read the resolution “Labor Law Reform.” The two resolution were discussed together.
Brother Hovis then introduced Bob Kingsley, Director of Organization, who reported on the organizing program.
SUNDAY SESSION, SEPTEMBER 16, 2007
The 70th UE Convention was called to order at 9:21 a.m. Andrew Dinkelaker, president of the UE Eastern Region, host region for the convention, welcomed the delegates. He called on all the Eastern Region delegates to stand and be recognized. “Our strength comes from our unity and diversity,” said Dinkelaker.
MONDAY MORNING SESSION, SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
President John Hovis called the convention to order at 9:00 a.m., and recognized Peter Knowlton, president of the Northeast Region and convener of the Resolutions Committee. Peter thanked the members of the Resolutions Committee for their hard work late into Sunday night. He then called on Nathanette Mayo, Local 150 and Pam Kelly, Local 222, who read the Collective Bargaining resolution.
Local 1174 members at the Quad City Die Casting are unshaken in their determination to win a just contract, despite being locked out by the company since late July. Their resolve grew even stronger with a state decision granting them unemployment benefits, and with the decisions of two temp agencies to remove their workers from the foundry
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