I recently had the opportunity to attend the AFL-CIO’s 30th Constitutional Convention in Minneapolis, where delegates representing millions of working people came together to chart the future of the labor movement. The message that emerged from the convention was clear: the labor movement is growing, workers are organizing, and unions remain the strongest voice and best opportunity for working people to secure a better future for themselves.
At a time when economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and political division dominate the headlines, union members across the country continue to prove that solidarity remains our greatest strength. Whether in retail, healthcare, transportation, logistics, manufacturing, or the service sector, workers are standing together and demanding a voice on the job.
One of the convention’s central themes was organizing. AFL-CIO leaders announced an ambitious goal of helping organize two million new workers by 2031. That goal reflects what we are seeing firsthand throughout our own industries. Workers are recognizing that collective bargaining delivers real results, better wages, stronger benefits, safer workplaces, retirement security, and respect on the job.
For our members, that message is the same. Every contract we negotiate, every grievance we resolve, and every workplace we organize reinforces the same principle: when workers stand together, we have power and that’s how we WIN.
The convention also focused heavily on economic security. Delegates adopted resolutions supporting collective bargaining rights, workforce development, retirement protections, healthcare affordability, and policies designed to create jobs that will help sustain families. These priorities mirror the issues our members face every day. Working people deserve an economy that rewards hard work and provides opportunities for families to succeed.
Another topic that generated significant discussion was artificial intelligence and its growing impact on the workplace. Technology continues to transform industries at an unprecedented pace. While innovation can create opportunities, it must never come at the expense of workers’ rights, job security, or dignity. There was a deep emphasis that workers deserve a seat at the table whenever new technologies are introduced. Whether AI is used in scheduling, hiring, performance evaluations, or workplace operations, transparency and accountability must remain priorities. The labor movement is not opposed to innovation; we simply believe that workers should help shape how these tools are used and how their benefits are shared. Without worker input, those decisions are often made without considering the people most affected by them.
The convention also highlighted organizing victories in industries that once seemed out of labor’s reach. Ride-share drivers, warehouse workers, flight attendants, and entertainment professionals are finding new ways to build collective power and improve working conditions. Their success demonstrates that the desire for workplace democracy extends far beyond traditional union sectors. As I look at the momentum building throughout the labor movement, I am encouraged by what I see. Workers across the country are organizing because they want the same things our members have fought for and protected over generations: respect, dignity, fairness, and a voice on the job.
Those values have always defined UFCW Local 1500.
These developments serve as an important reminder that the labor movement’s future depends on our continued commitment to solidarity, engagement, and growth. The challenges facing working people are significant, but so are the opportunities. Public support for unions remains strong, workers across the country are organizing at historic levels, and labor’s voice continues to grow louder in workplaces and communities alike.
As we move forward, we will continue fighting for fair contracts, protecting good union jobs, and ensuring that every member has the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their families.
The labor movement has always been at its best when workers stand together. The conversations in Minneapolis reinforced what we already know: our strength comes from unity, our progress comes from solidarity, and our future depends on continuing to build worker power for generations to come.
In Solidarity,
Your Secretary-Treasurer
Aly Waddy