The UFCW International Convention; What Members Need to Know

Please be advised:

The UFCW will be holding its International Convention this summer, Monday 18 August 2008 through Friday 22 August 2008 in Montreal, Canada.

Each UFCW Local will be electing delegates to this Convention in the near future. The number of delegates from each Local depends upon the size of that Local's membership; Local delegations include the Local President and Secretary-Treasurer.

To be eligible to serve as a UFCW delegate or alternate, you must:

• Have been an active member of the UFCW continuously since January 2007.
• Currently be a member of the UFCW
• Maintain continuous membership in your UFCW Local until the first day of the convention, August 18, 2008.
  
  Locals provide for "lost time" payments for rank-and-file members, "daily expenses" and "traveling and hotel expenses". A passport for those entering Canada and returning to the U.S. is necessary these days; the backlog for obtaining a passport seems to have diminished - so there should be adequate time.
  
  The election of delegates to the IU Convention provides an opportunity for UFCW members to attend the convention, to voice and vote upon their concerns.
  
  Please consider initiating a campaign to become a delegate from your Local.
  
  Some Locals have been forthright about the election of delegates; some, as usual, have not. 

See Here: http://www.ufcw21.org/2008/02/05/february_2008_general_membership_meetings_and

So, the first step is to contact your Local, voice your understanding that delegates are to be elected, and inquire, verbally and in writing, regarding the practices, procedures, dates, etc. regarding the election.

Then, organize some like-minded brothers and sisters to run. Get into the stores and gather votes.

If this can be done, an Groceryworkers.org caucus at the IU Convention might be an interesting possibility, along with some other creative (and public) activities.

Contact your Local 8 office at (916) 786-0588 ext 201 and inquire about convention delegates & elections ASAP!

Our guess,  the Loveall's and the Local 8 office will deny you this information that's why it's so important to not only contact them verbally but also in writing!

We suspect there will be all kinds of locals just doing whatever they please. While you can all lament their shortcomings, it is a violation of the internationals constitution and should not be taken lightly. For anyone who is interested, you should note if you did not receive notice of the election then you should contact your local to find out why.

Because this convention is where the election of officers is held, the process is mandated by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Failing to follow the guidelines as defined in the constitution is tantamount to violating the law. While the feds have sucked at ever doing anything, imagine if every local that broke the law was reported to the NLRB.

Please do not blow this off as no big deal; it is. As a member of the ufcw you have a right to be considered as a candidate. If the local is sending more than the president and secretary treasurer, they have to hold nominations and elections in accordance with the constitution.

See pictures of the 2003 UFCW International Convention here:

http://www.tesswaldproductions.com/featured_ufcw03.htm

For more info & updates on this issue follow this thread: http://forums.uncharted.ca/about1151.html