Thousands of delegates and their families made their way to San Francisco in July for the fifth regular convention of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. UFCW Canada delegates (seen in caucus, above) re-elected Canada's vice-presidents, four of whom are seen above right (l-r): Doug O'Halloran, Wayne Hanley, François Lauzon, and national director Micael Fraser. Joining them at the caucus meeting was brian Williamson, president of the UFCW Canada National Council. In his keynote address, international president Doug Dority (right) exhorted members to strive for greater things. "There is no limit to what we can do in North America," he said. "We have the hardest working, most productive workers in the world. We have strong communities. We are people of integrity and values. And we have one of the strongest, most progressive, most active worker organizations in the world. Our great union must become even stronger, and more active." Dority and international secretary-treasurer Joe Hansen were on stage, along with Local 175 president Wayne Hanley, when UFCW Canada national direction Micael Fraser welcomed members from |
Canada Safeway stores in Thunder Bay, who stood up to the company in a 504-day strike, as part of his report on UFCW Canada (below left). Touching on the union's efforts in Canada on organizing Wal-Mart workers and workers in the agricultural sector, Fraser commended the Safeway workers, saying, "Our members told Safeway, 'You can threaten to cut our wages. You can close our stores. You can keep us on strike for 16 months. But you will never take away our dignity!'" UFCW Canada gusts at the vent included CASCAR driver Kerry Micks (with young fan, below), who, with his UFCW Canada race car the centrepiece in the convention exhibition hall, explained the Racing for a Cure program to delegates. Also on hand was former heavyweight boxing champion George Chuvalo, whose work against drug abuse has been both sponsored and honoured by UFCW Canada. George is seen with retired UFCW Canada director Tom Kukovica, and son Mitch Chuvalo. |