On August 29, several Unifor elected representatives travelled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the 75th national convention of the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE).
At the conclusion of the convention, Unifor and UE signed a cooperation agreement to “change and renew the North American labor movement, based on shared values and commitment to aggressive struggle, equity, and political independence.”
By this Agreement, the UE and Unifor declared their solidarity and pledged a working relationship, one that is rooted in social unionism.
“The best way to make progress for working people is to link our bargaining demands to demands for social progress,” said Jerry Dias, National President. “When we stand against racism and with women, immigrants, refugees and our LGBTQ communities we can make a difference.”
The project commits the two unions to a working relationship to reverse decades of decline in union density and to organize working people. Equity, democracy, and militancy formed the core principles of future solidarity actions.
“On both sides of the border, working people are under attack from greedy corporations hell-bent on suppressing wages and rights at work,” said Joie Warnock, Western Regional Director, who was present at the convention. “Unifor’s 2017 Canadian Council resolved to make a better world through solidarity. Building bridges with militant unions that share our goals is one way to make good on that commitment.”
Based in Pittsburgh, UE represents over 35,000 workers in a variety of manufacturing, public sector, and private non-profit jobs in the U.S.