UPEC Receives “LiUNA Innovator Award”

Monday, September 21, 2009

REDDING - UPEC Local 792 received the 2009 “LiUNA Innovator Award” from the Pacific Southwest Region in August. This award is given annually at the LiUNA Regional Conference by the Regional Vice President and Regional Manager. The award honors creative innovations for Union progress. Local 792 was recognized for their informative and focused membership Orientation Program. This is the fifth time Local 792 has received this award from the Region. The last innovation award was in 2005.

Leadership Training That Makes Sense

REDDING - Business Manager Chris Darker announced today that the Local Union will sponsor Foundations in Leadership (formerly Principle Based Leadership) at the Local office on Thursday, October 29, 2009. The training has been presented on 4 previous occasions and has been well received. The training begins at 8:30am and concludes at 5:00pm. The training includes a continental breakfast and lunch on site. The training is FREE to UPEC Members and $99.00 to non-members and the public. This year the training will be presented by Police Chief Gary Brown (ret) Monterey PD and Chief Rick Hicks (ret) Cypress PD along with Business Manager Darker. “These training principles can be applied to any job, union/association and family”, said Darker. Those interested in attending should contact the UPEC office ASAP at 530-245-1890 to reserve a seat.

LiUNA Members Put 5 Back to Work

Friday, September 18, 2009

TUCSON, AZ - Pulte Homes Corp., the largest corporate homebuilder in the
U.S., has put five of seven workers back on the job after an
outpouring of protest from LIUNA members across the country.
Soon after seven Pulte workers in Tucson, Ariz., came to work in
orange LiUNA! shirts and asked to be paid for wages they
believed were due them, the company sent the workers home and
told them there was no further work. LIUNA members from every
state in the U.S. - and many members from Canada - telephoned
and wrote the company in protest. In addition, LIUNA members put
a spotlight on the workers in a radio ad in Pulte’s home state
of Michigan. Listen to the ad and then send a message to Pulte
letting them know that no one in America should be fired for the
shirt they wear and urge them to put the two remaining employees
back to work.
http://liunaactionnetwork.org/ct/9p_P1Cn1lj1i/
http://liunaactionnetwork.org/campaign/pulte7/wn8sw564l7e66xm6?

Trumka Elected AFL-CIO President

Thursday, September 17, 2009

PITTSBURG - Wednesday afternoon in Pittsburgh, AFL-CIO Vice President Richard Trumka was elected president of the AFL-CIO along with a new Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. Trumka recognized John Sweeney for his renewed commitment to organizing, restored our voice in government and reminded us that organized labor isn’t just an institution; we are a movement.  “That’s right, we are a movement, and today, on my first full day as president of the AFL-CIO, my message to America is that just as unions built the middle class once before, if you give us the chance, we can build it again”, said Trumka.
LiUNA is waiting and watching to see what the agenda will be for Trumka’s administration before any decision to re-affiliate is considered. LiUNA is in “Change to Win” with 6 other International Unions who left the AFL-CIO.

LiUNA Leadership Conference Kicks Off

Monday, September 14, 2009

ORLANDO, FL - The 2009 LiUNA Leadership kicked off today with over 1,000 LiUNA Leadership staff in attendance. Several reports were given on the state of LiUNA including membership. Union membership is down due to the downturn in the economy. Many construction jobs are gone and public employees are not being replaced as they retire. Business Manager Chris Darker said its important that we continue to organize new groups into the local to expand market share and help fight for middle class America. LiUNA General President presented his strategic plan for the Union which included regional and local organizing plans, green jobs, training and education. O’Sullivan wants locals to know they have the support of the International and plans to sit down with Local Business Managers and Regional Managers and review their strategic plans and identify where the International can provide support. The International will also be drafting a “Code of Performance” for LiUNA workers to ensure we are providing quality performance by our members.

UPEC Staff Receive Newsletter Award

ORLANDO, FL - UPEC Staff accept the Public Employee Department “Best Newsletter Award” at the 2009 Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, September 13th. UPEC competed with several other local unions from across the United States and Canada. UPEC did a news round-up of articles posted on their website over the past twelve months.
photo: LiUNA Vice President Rocco Davis, UPEC Asst. Business Manager Crystal Mair-Darker, LiUNA General President Terence M. O’Sullivan, UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker, LiUNA General Secretary-Treasurer Armand Sabitoni and UPEC Union Relations Representative Christine Perry.