Posts Categorized: Member Resources

UFCW Local 2008 held its second biannual Steward Educational Conference in Hot Springs, Ark., on Oct. 17 to 18. The conference provided new leadership opportunities and training for stewards to further strengthen the support they provide to our members.

The event had strong attendance with more than half of the local’s union stewards present, including those who represent members who work at Kroger, Tyson Foods, Conagra Brands, Tankersley Foodservice, Wayne Farms and the Bionetics Corporation.

Conference workshops ranged from “Mobilizing the Membership” to “Screening Gripes From Grievances and Knowing Your Contract.” UFCW Local 2008 stewards enjoyed being able to speak with one another about the challenges they work to solve in their workplaces. The stewards also found the workshops to be informative and helpful, giving them tips and ideas to become more active in their stores, plants and facilities.

“I look forward to providing additional training in the future,” said UFCW Local 2008 President Steve Gelios.

Scholarship recipients celebrate at the 2019 Creating Change Conference, which was held in Detroit earlier this year.

UFCW OUTreach is offering scholarships for members to attend next year’s Creating Change Conference in Dallas.

The Jan. 15 to 19, 2020 conference is organized by the National LGBTQ Task Force and is the foremost political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ+ social justice movement.

Scholarship recipients will learn more about a broad range of social justice issues and develop skills to bring back to their workplaces and local unions. Past session topics have included labor, gender equality, community organizing, criminal justice, immigration and more.

In recent years, UFCW OUTreach Executive Board members have served as a key voice for working class and labor issues at this conference. In a time where the labor movement and everything we have fought for is under attack, UFCW OUTreach is dedicated to strengthening social and economic justice. With collaborations like these, our union family is able to advance full equality for LGBTQ+ workers at work and in their local unions. This effort reflects the UFCW’s commitment to building a resilient working class, united in strengthening economic opportunities for all workers.

The submission deadline for the scholarships is Friday, Nov.15. For more information about these scholarships or to apply, visit the new UFCW OUTreach website here.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about UFCW OUTreach, please contact Michele Kessler at MKessler@ufcw1776.org, Kim Frost at kim@local1102.org or Jean Tong at jean.tong@ufcw770.org.