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Organizing is the life blood of the union movement. When Stewart Acuff spoke at the Kansas AFL-CIO Community Services conference, he set in motion a chain of events leading
to a state-wide conference on organizing on September 7. The conference is entitled “Organize for our Future, Survival of the Fittest”
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Stewart Acuff Organizing Director AFL-CIO
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According to Acuff, the percentage of workers organized in unions has declined in recent decades and this has hurt all workers. But
even in today's hostile legal and political environment, there are exciting new strategies, tactics, and techniques that unions are using to fight back. Incredibly, Acuff said, unions have organized four
million new members in the last decade.
Debbie Shepard, SPEEA organizer, started the ball rolling when she drove Acuff to the airport for his return trip and asked if he
would be willing to come back to Wichita for a nuts and bolts session on organizing. Since Shepard also serves on the Executive Board of the Wichita-Hutchinson
Labor Federation, she checked with other unions. An organizing conference committee from a cross
section of unions was formed. Invitations are going out to all labor unions in Kansas and surrounding areas.
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Greg Junemann, IFTPE President
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Stewart Acuff, AFL-CIO Organizing Director and join Greg Junemann, International Federation of Professional and Technical
Engineers (IFPTE), are the two “big names” for the September 7 conference.
The other featured speakers bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the conference. Bob Gorman, who has more than 30
years of union experience, primarily as an organizer/business agent with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Washington state. Paul Shearon,
SPEEA’s director of organizing and recently elected of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (SPEEA’s parent union). Wil Leiker
, Executive Vice President of the Kansas AFL-CIO will moderate a panel discussion at the close of the conference.
Richard Taylor, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Kansas
“This is an opportunity for all of south central Kansas unions whether building trades, SPEEA, IAM, and all the other unions to come together to support the union movement and develop common
strategies.” According to Kirby Clark, business agent for the Sheet Metal Workers, his union is really excited about the conference. “We have about 190 members and already I know of four who are
coming. I brought up the conference at our semiannual Great
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Organizing Conference Committee Members
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Judy Pierce, President, Wichita Hutchinson Labor Federation
Paul Babich, United Teachers of Wichita, #725
Mark Roby, Iron Workers, #24
Kirby Clark, Sheet Metal Workers, #29
Anita Roby, SEIU, #513
Loretta Rockwell, Wichita-Hutchinson Labor Fed
Deb Shepard, SPEEA, IFPTE #2001
John Shepherd, Plumbers & Pipefitters, #441
Sandy Early, SPEEA, IFPTE, #2001
Larry Landwehr, United Teachers of Wichita, #725
Rich Taylor, Building & Trades Council
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Plains District meeting and some of the officers and business agents from neighboring states said they would like to attend.”
“This is the perfect conference for union officers, business agents, stewards, and for any union member interested in building a larger and more effective
labor movement. We encourage union people from Kansas City, Topeka, Salina, and even neighboring states to join us.” said Judy Pierce, President of
the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation and Secretary-Treasurer of District 70 IAM.
CONFERENCE DETAILS
The Organize for our Future, Survival of the Fittest conference will be held at the Best Western Airport Inn & Conference Center, 6815 W. Kellogg, Wichita, KS 67209.
Registration will be Wednesday night from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Thursday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with lunch being served at
noon.. The registration fee is $25 per person to cover lunch, refreshments and conference materials.
You can register on-line or download a registration form.
Please send your checks payable to the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation to Loretta Rockwell at The Wichita Hutchinson Labor
Federation, 3219 West Central, Wichita, KS, 67203, (316) 941-4061 or Sandy Early at SPEEA, 973 S. Glendale, Wichita, KS, 67218 (316) 682-0262.
A hospitality room will be open on Wednesday evening. There is a restaurant and club on location
A block of rooms has been reserved for Wednesday evening, September 6, 2006. The room rate for
king/double rooms is $72.00 plus tax. This price includes a discount breakfast coupon. When registering, you must specify that you are attending the Labor Fed Organizing Conference. Hotel
reservations may be made by calling the Best Western at (316) 943-5600 or toll free 1-888-952-5666. The hotel’s deadline for registration is August 14.
The conference organizers are requesting that union members also register whether on line, by mail by
August 15. Please make your check payable to the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation.
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