NATIONAL COMMITTEES
National Committees Meet in Michigan to Compare Notes and Build UWUA Power!
UWUA members who are part of the Human Rights, Health and Safety, and Young Workers Committees recently joined together at the Power for America headquarters in Potterville, MI to see first-hand the importance of skills training, to compare notes, and build UWUA power.
“By bringing our National Committee members together in one place, at one time, we are building relationships to increase our strength internally and our power to deliver good contracts, safer workplaces, and stronger communities,” UWUA President Mike Langford said of the first-time gathering.
The Human Rights and Young Workers Initiative Committees held a joint session where Unifor Canada’s Director of Human Rights, Christine Maclin, gave a presentation on the best practices in dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, and other types of discriminatory behaviors in the workplace. Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union, with more than 315,000 members across the country, working in every major sector of the Canadian economy.
“We must create a safe space for open conversation where members can have a dialogue about what and why people feel the way they do,” Maclin said. “After that, we must highlight common interests to build relationships and partnerships so that common interests and goals can supersede differences.”
“It was one of the best training sessions/human rights instructions that I’ve ever attended,” said Nate Waters, chair of the Human Rights Committee.
Also in attendance at the Human Rights meeting were members of the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), and National Nurses United (NNU), unions that are working with the UWUA on the North American Solidarity Project.
National Health and Safety Committee members had a very productive first face-to-face meeting to continue their work.
Meanwhile, the Young Workers Committee met to develop an agenda for their work going forward, including planning for the 31st National Convention this July.
They fleshed out ideas to develop a financial educational plan to help young workers achieve financial independence and security through proper investing (real estate, 401K, markets, credit, etc.).
They also discussed the need to become more visible in their communities, especially in high schools, to promote union jobs as a great alternative to college. They made plans to attend career days and visit schools to explain the great opportunities that flow from collective bargaining, as well as the practical benefits of learning a skill or vocation.
