District 10 Determined
To Build Union
FRESNO, Calif.
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The officers of District 10 are given the oath
of office by Dir. of Org. Robert B. Kingsley. From left, Maria Gonzalez, Joe Chavez, Luis
Montes, Eva Rios, Art Mensor, Ida Betts, Jose Reyes, Terry Guy. Mark Falcon is not
pictured.
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An upbeat, spirited UE District 10 Council meeting here Oct. 16-17
left delegates more determined than ever to strengthen their locals and build the union
throughout the union’s West Coast region.
An entire session was devoted to an organizing workshop, where the
discussion focused on how the rank-and-file can participate in recruiting and make use of
the new organizing cards developed by the National union.
Delegates received a thorough explanation of the UE National Organizing
Plan from the union’s organizing director, Robert Kingsley, who stressed the
importance of membership involvement in organizing.
The fight to defeat "fast-track" expansion of the job-killing
NAFTA trade deal also figured prominently in the national officer’s remarks. Kingsley
pointed out that expansion of the free trade agreement would mostly benefit the
corporations and rich at the expense of workers and the environment. Additional thousands
of family-supporting jobs would be lost to U.S. manufacturing workers.
Kingsley also urged UE district and local leaders to join and help build
the Labor Party and defend Social Security. He suggested use of the materials produced by
the National union to educate and mobilize their members.
District Political Action Dir. Luis Montes urged all the delegates
to work as a team to defend Social Security. He also explained the use of postcards to
pressure lawmakers to keep the system strong. All delegates made a commitment to
distribute the postcards and send them in by the end of the month.
Delegates unanimously elected as district officers Pres. Joe Chavez
of Local 1014, Vice Pres. Ida Betts of Local 1094, Fin. Sec.
Marianne Hart of Local 1421, Sergeant-at-Arms Mark Falcon of Local
1014, Trustees Terry Guy, Local 1421, Art Mensor of Local 1094, Eva
Rios of Local 1421 and Jose Reyes of Local 1421 (alternate).
