UFCW family stronger than ever as 8th Convention concludes
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Las Vegas, Nevada – April 26, 2018 – The UFCW 8th Regular convention convened Thursday in Las Vegas, wrapping up a historic gathering for North America’s most progressive and leading force for workers and their families.
Throughout the four-day convention, delegates, presenters and resolutions focused on the union’s core principles of unity, family, community, and worth as the pillars of building a better life for UFCW members and working families.
In an stirring closing keynote address to the convention, Captain "Sully" Sullenberger spoke about the heroic efforts and power of everyday people when they come together in solidarity to face a tremendous challenge. Sullenberger is the retired pilot who safely landed a passenger plane on the Hudson River off Manhattan after the plane was disabled after takeoff. All 155 people aboard survived.
During the action-packed week, conventioneers also heard from other speakers who talked about the power of unity and community, like the Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II; Jagmeet Singh, the Leader of Canada’s NDP; Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield; and tennis champion and social justice advocate Billie Jean King.
On Tuesday, delegates unanimously elected the Members Team Slate as the UFCW Executive Committee, which includes International President Marc Perrone, Secretary-Treasurer Esther López, and Executive Vice Presidents Paul Meinema, Stuart Appelbaum, and Shaun Barclay.
The convention also highlighted the power and passion of UFCW members from across North America through a number of video testimonials, in which members shared their stories of how the UFCW has helped them build a better life at work and at home. These activists received a huge ovation when they took to the stage as the convention came to a close.
More than 2,500 delegates and activists attended the four-day gathering, including 400 UFCW Canada activists who represented the largest caucus at the convention.