The Convention
was called to order, with the singing of the national anthems for
the United States, Canada and Porte Rico. A pray was offered, and
the proceedings began. Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International
Union President (HERE) John Wilhem addressed the convention and thanked
them for their support. HERE represents 265,000 members, including
50,000 Las Vegas casino and hotel workers, who recently reached a
tentative agreement on a new contract that protects the families of
these workers. Wilhem thanked the UAW for helping end a six-year strike
at the Frontier Hotel and Casino that ended in 1997. "HERE will
be with you in the future as you have been with us in the past,"
Wilhem stated.
George Kourpias, President of the Alliance for Retired Workers and
retired president of the International Machinist Union spoke |
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Local 2195 Delegates Linda Watkins,
John Hawkins, Ted Letson and Dean Carroll.
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saying "The UAW's retirement program is the gold standard
to which other unions only aspire too." He went on to say that
ARA three priorities include:
- preserving the current Social Security system
- strengthing and expanding Medicare to include prescriptions drugs
- ensuring the security of pensions
The UAW Social Justice Award was presented to America's union members,
for their efforts concerning the terrorist events of 911. AFL-CIO
President John Sweeney accepted this award on behalf of the labor
movement. "Union members showed America the best of our families,
our working class values," Sweeney stated. "I accept this
award with great humility and a profound mixture of sadness and
pride."
UAW President Steve Yokich presented his state of the union address,
calling on UAW members to build on the UAW's tradition of fighting
for social justice and economic justice. "Every generation
has an obligation," Yokich stated. "Your obligation is
to build a better union. Take that to your union halls, and take
it to the streets." (Click
here for more on President Yokich's final state of the union address.)
Missouri House Representative and House Democratic Leader Richard
Gephardt addressed the convention via satellite from Washington,
D.C. "That slim margin is what got fast track legislation through
the House. But with a little more hard work by UAW members, that
trade authority that bill that is so harmful to working Americans
can be derailed," Gephardt said.
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