December 8, 2021 - Your Local Union Delegated Meeting began yesterday in Vancouver with 93 delegates, guests and staff in attendance.
The LUDM is being held at the Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel, from December 7th to December 9th.
The LUDM heard opening remarks from our National President Donna Hokiro. She called for unity and solidarity and spoke about bargaining for the TELUS certification, in the months to come.
“The status quo will not work for us and therefore your committee needs your support and the support of all members. The membership must stand united, together as one. So when your committee sits in front of the company, they are really seeing you. The members behind this committee.”
National Vice President Pierre-Luc Dick presented our Local’s In Memoriam video for members we have lost since our last LUDM in 2018, including former TWU Vice-President Peter Massy, USW Local 1944 staff person Kate Wood and Local Union Representative Joe Benn.
Our National Director Ken Neumann spoke to the importance of increasing joint activism and campaigns and introduced his successor, Canadian National Director-elect, Marty Warren.
“I am delighted to address the USW Local 1944 Local Union Delegated Meeting today. This is a great group within our Union. With TELUS bargaining underway, your solidarity and activism is more important than ever.”
Delegates nominated Brothers Local Union Rep Chris Stephens and former Local 1944 Secretary-Treasurer Michael Thompson for TWPP Trustee. The vote is to be held Wednesday, December 8th.
The Telus Bargaining Committee answered questions from the delegates and asked for support during bargaining.
Staff Rep Jayson Little called upon members, “When the Union calls for solidarity, asks you to wear a yellow shirt or whatever it is, we all need to do it. We need to show the company we are together and united in solidarity.”
The Delegates were honoured to have special guest speaker Mark Henick. Mark inspired us with his story of survival and our collective ability to help each other in times of need. Mark talks to how a stranger saved his life and how that night changed his life and set him on a journey to help others, a journey that our activists engage in as they help members and each other in tough times.
Finally, the Local 1944 Civil and Human Rights Committee is circulating a Rights Survey, and all participants are entered into a draw for one $300 Visa card and ten $50 cards for Local 1944’s online swag store. The draw will happen Thursday, December 9th, so fill it out today!: https://1944.fyi/chr-survey
Stay tuned for more updates on Facebook and Twitter.
In Solidarity,
United Steelworkers Local 1944
