Jacques Loveall
President, UFCW 8-Golden State
UFCW International Vice President
A true labor leader understands and appreciates the power which derives from each of us as we join together for a common cause.
In my remarks to a conference of leaders in the food and drug industries, and in the last edition of this magazine, I paid tribute to Douglas Dority, a former president of the UFCW International Union and a close friend of UFCW 8-Golden State.
Doug’s tenure saw us through some extremely challenging times, when tens of thousands of UFCW members were forced by their employers into grueling labor disputes. At the same time, Walmart and other ruthlessly anti-Union companies threatened to destroy the standards we fought hard to establish over several decades in the food industries.
Doug stepped into his position prepared to lead, and lead he did. He dispatched volunteer activists from across the country to support our striking Southern California members on the picket lines and provided valuable assistance at the bargaining table.
Remember those who came before us
Doug’s style of leadership was an inspiration for me and others who have the privilege of serving the 1.2 million members of our great Union across North America. He manifested what we all strive to be: dedicated advocates for the rights and welfare of working people.
A true labor leader understands and appreciates the power which derives from each of us as we join together for a common cause. Our members energize us at every level, and it’s our responsibility to maintain this enthusiasm.
Every decision we make, every step we take, is directed toward improving the lives of the members, both at work and at home.
The secret is to remember those who came before us, build on what they taught us, and educate new people with the skills to move this Union forward.
Our task as leaders is to bring our people together
In the third decade of the 21st century, our Union confronts new challenges, including consolidation of our industries, automation and a fragile economy. As we prepare for contract negotiations down the line, we expect to see resistance from employers who continue to value profits over the workers who make those profits possible.
Contributing to these challenges is the unfortunate state of political discourse in our country. Too often, we react to our fellow Americans with suspicion and distrust. Our task as leaders in this environment is to bring our people together, regardless of the colors of the hats they wear or whether they drive to work in a pickup truck or an electric car.
We may disagree at times about politics and other matters, but we all deserve to be paid fairly and treated decently on the job. We all love our spouses and children, and we want to provide the best health care possible for them to stay healthy and flourish. And when our decades of service for our employers come to an end, we all want to retire with dignity and financial security.
The greatest tribute we can offer those who came before us is to keep moving forward with resolve. Leadership isn’t found merely in titles; it’s found in the choices we make to lift one another up. When we stand united, we endure and we rise. And together, we will rise to meet every moment still to come because, as we have proven again and again…
