Our members are rightfully outraged over an Arizona law giving police broad power to stop people on suspicion of being in the state illegally.
Many members urge we cancel the July regional meeting in Phoenix.
After consulting with Arizona AFL-CIO officials, our UTU Human Rights Committee, and Arizona State Legislative Director Greg Hynes, and after reviewing the contract with the unionized hotel in Arizona, International President Mike Futhey, Assistant President Arty Martin and General Secretary and Treasurer Kim Thompson agreed our members best interests are served by not canceling the meeting.
The majority of Arizona AFL-CIO affiliates do not believe a widespread economic boycott of Arizona is in the best interest of the working families in Arizona, Arizona AFL-CIO Executive Director Rebekah Friend told Futhey.
Hotel employees, among the strongest opponents of this wrong-headed state law, would suffer financially were we to cancel, Thompson said.
Moreover, we would forfeit almost a half-million dollars in union funds under provisions of the hotel contract were we to cancel. Hotel guarantees are required when scheduling meetings, and are offset by attendee registration fees and room reservations. If we cancel, the hotel gets the money and the workers lose, Thompson said.
Futhey said the UTU would invite an Arizona labor official to the regional meeting to update members on efforts to repeal the law, and the UTU would lend its lobbying strength toward such efforts. We have also joined an Arizona AFL-CIO petition asking President Obama to issue an executive order overturning the law, Futhey said.
As a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, I am also working within the federation toward efforts at overturning that law, Futhey said.
