UE’s First Virtual Convention Shows Leadership in Tough Times

Although they were unable to gather in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, over 100 delegates from UE locals across the U.S. nonetheless held a successful virtual convention from September 20-24, with all of the inspiration, education, democracy and solidarity of a regular UE convention. They were joined by dozens of guests, including rank-and-file members, new UE members from recent organizing campaigns, retired UE officers and staff, and guests from allied unions Unifor (Canada) and the FAT (Mexico).

Video of convention speakers, organizing reports, and greetings from international guests can be viewed on the UE YouTube Channel. Please hit the “SUBSCRIBE” button while watching UE videos on YouTube, so you get notified when we post new videos (and so we can get to 100 subscribers, which will allow us to get our own YouTube URL).

Full UE NEWS coverage of the convention has now been posted on the UE website:

A Life in UE: Director of Organization Gene Elk Retiring After 44 Years

UE Director of Organization Gene Elk retired at the end of his current term, on October 31. Elk first joined the UE staff in November of 1977, and served the union as a Field Organizer, International Representative, and Secretary of the GE Conference Board before his election as Director of Organization in 2015.

UE Mourns Passing of Kelly Robtoy

UE mourns the passing of Kelly Robtoy, former UE Local 208 president, General Executive Board member and UE Field Organizer. Robtoy joined Local 208’s executive board as a member-at-large in 2017 and in 2019 was elected president. She was also elected as secretary-treasurer of UE’s Northeast Region in May of 2018, making her a member of UE’s General Executive Board. In 2020, she joined the UE staff as a field organizer, but had to go on leave due to medical issues at the end of the year.

Local 115 Members Take on Private Equity Industry in Struggle for First Contract

In June, 250 workers at the Refresco bottling plant in Wharton, NJ voted to join UE in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election, forming UE Local 115. Rather than beginning negotiations for a first contract, Refresco has instead filed a series of frivolous legal appeals. The new UE members are not simply waiting on the legal process, however. They are taking action in the shop and have been working with the Private Equity Stakeholder Project to reach out directly to investors in Refresco parent companies, including various public-employee pension funds. Read more »

New Local 712 Contract Big Win for Retirees, Reservists

After three months of negotiations, members of UE Local 712 ratified a new contract at the end of August that will raise wages, improve retiree health insurance and provide new benefits for members who go on active military duty. Local 712 represents maintenance workers at Kenyon College. Read more »

Local 690 Makes Big Gains with Five-Year Agreement

UE Local 690 ratified a new five-year contract on October 22 after running an aggressive contract campaign spearheaded by strong rank-and-file participation. Gains include average wage increases of $.77 per hour for each year of the contract, two additional personal days, extra vacation time for newer hires, expanded bereavement leave protections, improved non-discrimination language, expanded life insurance benefits, and a $1,000 ratification bonus. Read more »

Local 319 Contract Campaign Nets Three-Year Agreement

UE Local 319, whose members produce industrial lubricants for Battenfeld Grease & Oil Corporation of New York, ratified a new three-year contract on October 8. The local’s gains include average wage increases of $.81 per hour for each year of the contract and additional employer contributions to workers’ health savings accounts (HSAs). The local successfully fought back all concessions proposed by the company. Read more »

Women’s Leadership Event Raises Over $2600

On Sunday, October 10, UE held its second Florence Criley Women’s Leadership Fundraiser. This event raised over $2600 to subsidize the costs of UE women attending leadership development programs. The featured speaker of this year’s event was Larsene Taylor, former president of UE Local 150 and former member of the General Executive Board (GEB), UE’s highest rank-and-file decision-making body outside of conventions. Read more (and watch video of Sister Taylor's remarks) »

Reports Highlight Importance of Collective Bargaining for Virginia Municipal Workers

Two new reports published by a Virginia policy-advocacy group make the case that collective bargaining will bring benefits to both municipal workers and the communities they serve. The reports, produced by the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, look at salary data from the cities of Virginia Beach and Newport News, and conclude that many public employees in both cities cannot afford to live in the cities they serve. Read more »

Leadership and Staff Development Program Meets for First Time

UE members participating in the Leadership and Staff Development Program met for the first time on October 21 and 22 via Zoom. This program will be a year-long set of meetings and activities for UE members from racial and ethnic backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in UE leadership or on the UE staff. Read more »

IndustriALL Hosts Third Congress Online

IndustriALL Global Union, a world wide union federation of industrial manufacturing unions including UE, held its Third Congress as an online event September 14-15. UE Director of International Strategies Kari Thompson represented UE at the Congress, and the three UE national officers, Local 506 President Scott Slawson, and International Rep. Tara McCauleyparticipated as observers. Read more »

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