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Los Angeles, California
– On Sunday, July 15, fifteen delegates from Local 75 joined with
hundreds of others from HERE local unions to open the International
Union Convention in Los Angeles, California. In a “rally” that lasted for four hours, we heard from
union leaders of the AFL-CIO, United Farmworkers and UNITE, as well as
the Reverend Jesse Jackson. The highlight was 150 workers coming onto the stage, each to make a brief
statement to rousing ovations. They represented the over 60,000 hotel, restaurant and gaming workers who
have newly organized or had a strike over the last 5 years. Their stories were moving and powerful.
HERE Local 75 delegates seated with others from Canada at I.U. Convention
Over the course of the week, the delegates learned of the many struggles
our members are engaged in throughout North America. The Convention, titled “New Voices, New Directions”,
emphasized the key role that immigrant members and workers of colour
have in rebuilding the Labour Movement in Canada and the U.S. A special immigration forum included speakers such as our own
Sister Winnie Ng, speaking for the Canadian Labour Congress, Sister
Tho Do, officer of HERE Local 2 in San Francisco, Sister Maria Elena
Durazo, head of Local 11 in Los Angeles and now General Vice-President
for Immigration Issues. A guest speaker was the Foreign Minister of Mexico. He is working with our union to achieve reforms in U.S.
immigration policy – which are the same goals we have in Canada: the reunification of families, amnesty for undocumented
workers, and full legal rights for
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immigrants as the guest
worker/seasonal worker program threatens to expand from farm work into
tourism, hospitality and construction.
There were many excellent videos and speeches. There
were decisions made about increasing organizing, training
rank-and-file leaders and staff, getting ready for more strikes,
coordinating hotel bargaining between cities, increasing our research
capacity, and building our political power. Stay tuned over the coming
months - we will be showing some of the video highlights at Local 75
union meetings and trainings.
Following are the comments of your delegates:
"The Convention was very good
for me. This was my first convention as delegate and many other
people coming from other locals. HERE tries to unite and honor
us as a multicultural society. That's what makes up our Union.
We want to tell the media that we are not just a national
foundation. We are international and we are working globally to
give workers their dignity back. Our motto is to 'Organize,
Organize, Organize!'"
"I left the Convention feeling more proud
to be a member of HERE. If you know how it feels when one is
spiritually reborn, then this is how I am feeling, but like a
new convert in the Union."
"The Union is the source of protection
and a better living for a better future of our friends,
relatives, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren,
great-great grandchildren."
"Eye-opener! Didn't realize all the work
involved in organizing. The nicest bunch of delegates -
friendly. Learned about problems from other districts. I'm
impressed by all the hard work."
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