Recap of UAW SpecialConvention on Collective Bargaining

THE 'AWESOME POWER' TO WIN JUSTICE

On March 22-24, the UAW held its Special Convention on Collective Bargaining at Cobo Center in Detroit, where more than 1,200 delegates, alternates and guests attended. The delegates were UAW members from all sectors of the union – including auto, aerospace, agricultural implement, higher education, gaming, public sector and other areas – from across the United States and Canada.

They gathered, as delegates do every four years, to debate and vote on an omnibus resolution that determines the union’s bargaining agenda for contract negotiations during the next four years. Delegates also attend the convention to hear words of inspiration from UAW leaders and other prominent thinkers and activists for workers’ rights today.

UAW President Bob King gave delegates an overview of the anti-worker issues facing convention delegates and how to address them.

“When workers have a little power, they win a little justice; when workers have medium power, they win medium justice; and when workers have awesome power, they win awesome justice!” said King to the enthusiastic group on the convention’s first day.

Holding up a copy of the UAW’s Proposed Resolution, King said the book and its platforms for social, economic and environmental justice are the foundation of the UAW’s path forward. We must be very clear that we will not achieve these platforms and goals if we do not first aggressively and effectively build our power by organizing the large majorities of workers in an industry or sector, he added.

Jimmy Mack of UAW Local 276 in Arlington, Texas, agreed with his International president, adding that auto talks this year will be a delicate balance of trying to win contract gains, while not hamstringing their employers.

“We want to make sure we’re an asset to them and not a liability,” Mack said.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was one of the early speakers on the first day at the convention, saying unions need to stay in the fight. “UAW workers know how to get the job done and do it right,” said Quinn, a Democrat, who has a long history of supporting labor.

Speaker Donna Brazile, a veteran Democratic political strategist, also addressed the delegates, reminding them of her family’s history of union membership. Called by King “a legend in her own time,” the self-described labor Democrat vowed to be in the fight with workers.

Economic Policy Institute economist Josh Bivens told delegates the current federal economic policy is ignoring job creation and focusing on union attacks.

“More of the helpful stimulus in the recovery act that was passed in 2009 needs to happen,” said Bivens.

Speaker Eliseo Medina, SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer, also thinks big picture.

“To win, we need to build a broad, powerful coalition of organizations and people who share our vision for America,” he told delegates.

Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of Teachers (AFT), had a simple message for delegates.

“They [right-wing politicians] see a world where there will be an evisceration of the middle class,” Weingarten said. “That is the world we have to fight against.”

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, chief executive officer of Green for All, also stirred the crowd. “Are you ready to lead this country?” she asked. “Are you ready to fight for the America we believe in?”

Delegate cheers showed they were ready.

Also at the convention, the UAW awarded one of its highest honors to critically acclaimed actor, film director and lifelong civil rights activist Danny Glover, who received the UAW Social Justice Award. Glover urged delegates to stand up for a new economic model that respects human dignity and workers’ rights.

The final special guest speaker of the convention was TV-radio talk show host Ed Schultz. “It was the American worker that got organized, that got a voice that made it fair,” said Schultz, known as “Big Eddie,” as he urged the crowd to stand up for their rights.

Also at the convention, the UAW’s International Executive Board (IEB) officers gave updates on their departments, including details about rehiring plans at GM, the addition of 20,000 casino workers to the UAW, the need to defend child care workers, building coalitions with workers in Mexico, the need for pattern bargaining in parts supplier industries and a Caterpillar contract victory that hinged on straightforward, respectful dialogue.

Throughout the convention, delegates debated a variety of resolutions designed to set the union’s negotiating course for the next four years.

Rico Diaz of UAW Local 865 in E. Moline, Ill., spoke in favor of the resolution on Building Power to Win Justice.

“It’s very important to put something in place that would allow these workers a fair chance at a decent future,” Diaz said.

Esther Scruggs of UAW Local 276 urged delegates to adopt the Building a Global Middle Class resolution, and referred to the nondiscrimination language.

“The UAW has a proud history in pursuit of equal opportunity and social justice for all, but we still have a lot of discrimination due to the fact that lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals still face workplace discrimination,” she said.

And child care provider Brenda Stevenson of UAW Local 7127 spoke in favor of the benefits resolution. “Providing for young children who need child care is important,” she said. “If not, my children will be forced to send my grandchildren to child care facilities they can’t afford.”

UAW Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Williams also made a presentation to delegates to drive home the point that the union must focus on cooperation with unions throughout the world if it is to win rights for all workers.

The convention ended as the delegates followed King and the IEB leadership in a march to the entrance of the Bank of America office to highlight corporate tax dodging while cutting public services and workers’ pay.

King and others flooded the bank and forced it to shut down its operations for about 30 minutes. King said among other things that hurt American workers, the bank didn’t pay taxes on billions of dollars in revenue in 2009, money that could spare public sector cuts.

Joan Silvi