UFCW Canada Local 1000A stewards, staff and officers came together for a weekend of education and training at the local union’s 8th Annual Stewards' Conference.
In honor of the local union’s 70th anniversary, the theme of the conference was “Remembering Our Past, Fighting for Our Future.”
Held from September 20 to 21, the conference featured presentations, workshops and speeches aimed at providing stewards with knowledge and skills to take back to their workplace to encourage members to get involved with their union. The event featured the voices of Local 1000A members and stewards as well as workshops led by Local 1000A’s Directors.
“Our 70th anniversary is about remembering the achievements of great activists who made a difference in the lives of so many Local 1000A members,” President Pearl Sawyer. “It’s also about reaffirming and strengthening our commitment to defending our members’ rights and interests, pushing for healthy and safe workplaces, building a fairer and more just society and fighting for good jobs that pay a living wage, and lift up families out of poverty.”
Sawyer also spoke about the importance of member and steward participation. “You need to have the support of a strong and united membership to achieve a fair deal,” Sawyer said. “What each and every one of us contributes will be essential to achieving fairness at the bargaining table.”
The conference received rave reviews from stewards.
“Every conference is different from the previous one and you still learn so much—it is so informative,” said Jameson Dickson, a steward from Louis Dreyfus. “From listening to all the stories this weekend, I leave with a powerful feeling of solidarity. That’s the essence of the union—you got to stick together to achieve what is fair and just for working people.”
Jonas Hanje, a steward from Aspect Logistics, attended the conference for the first time. “Everyone was so warm and welcoming,” he said. “Being new, I had no idea what to expect but I leave knowing solidarity rules and it is in full-force at our union.”
Penny Paulley, a steward from Heidi’s Your Independent Grocer in Petrolia, said the conference was awesome. Her central message for members after the conference? “Get involved in your union. Why let someone else decide your future for you?”
