‘Workers need Unions now more than ever --- now let’s get out there!’

More than 100 organizers participated in the UFCW 8 Organizing Summit in Sacramento, June 30-July 1.

They shared ideas and studied techniques for bringing more workers in more companies and industries into the Union family.

“Organizing is the lifeblood of our organization,” UFCW 8 President Jacques Loveall said. “It is what has made us who we are, it’s what will carry us into the future and it’s the only way for us to grow. Without it we will die.”

Attendees learned successful organizing strategies and participated in round-table workshops and role playing exercises led by Warren Mar, training coordinator at City College of San Francisco and Pam Tau-Lee of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.

Both facilitators emphasized the importance of listening to and respecting everyone who is contacted during an organizing campaign.

“Look to address the non-Union worker’s concerns,” Mar said. “If they’re concerned about job security, don’t talk about benefits. Talk about what they want to talk about.”

“Try to make the people you are talking to comfortable,” Tau-Lee said.

Loveall explained that the ability to negotiate, maintain and improve on the Union’s negotiated contracts is related to the Union’s ability to maintain market share throughout its jurisdiction.

Participants in UFCW 8’s Organizing Summit hear the latest ideas for building Union strength.

President Jacques Loveall underscores the importance of recruiting new members.

and contracts have been destroyed by the creep of non-Union competition. “We have put too much blood, sweat and tears into this great Union to let that happen to us,” Loveall said.

“The way to guard against weakening our Union and our employers is to consistently and aggressively seek to represent new workers in our industry.”

Loveall said the Union plans to meet this challenge by shifting resources. “Organizing isn’t something that someone else at the Union does,” he said.

“It’s not someone else’s department or something that is handled elsewhere. It’s got to be everyone’s primary focus.”

Loveall observed that “while the challenges to the Union have never been greater, the Union is better equipped to meet those challenges.

“Workers need Unions now more than ever — now let’s get out    there!”