Convention Recap - IFPTE Honors Retiring President Paul Shearon, Delegates Elect New Leadership, Set Policy, and Commit Resources to Building Union Power

IFPTE's 60th Convention, held on August 9th and 10th, marks a pivotal moment as a new generation of leaders step up and join the current IFPTE leaders in recommitting to building union power through organizing, representing IFPTE members through member engagement, and improving the labor, economic, and social conditions of working people.

Due to pandemic health, safety, and travel considerations in Canada and the U.S., the Convention was conducted through video teleconference. IFPTE executive officers chaired the Convention in person at the IFPTE office in Washington D.C.  Matthew Joyce, Executive Council VP for the SPEEA Area, also attended the Convention in person.

IFPTE's local unions approved amendments to the IFPTE Constitution, policy resolutions, a per capita union dues increase, and elected new executive officers and new IFPTE Executive Council members for vacant seats. 

The Credentials and Rules Committee, chaired by SUP-Local 160's Vicki Powers, reported 177 delegates attended the Convention with a voting strength of 405 delegate votes.

The Convention was held just days after AFL-CIO President Trumka passed away. Trumka was scheduled to address IFPTE delegates.  In his place, Acting President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Liz Schuler delivered poignant remarks to delegates on Trumka's legacy, the transformations that are occurring with respect to the future of work and within the labor movement, and the importance of making sure IFPTE members voices are heard in the workplace, at the bargaining table, and in national and local legislatures.

Canadian Labour Congress Bea Bruske, who was elected to her current position last month, addressed delegates and continued on the theme that the labour movement must be driven by innovative organizing and member engagement. 

Watch Acting AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler and CLC President Bea Bruske address IFPTE delegates:

IFPTE Leaders, Members, Staff Honor Retiring President Paul Shearon's Distinguished Service to the Federation and to Labor

IFPTE took time during this week's Convention to thank and honor President Paul Shearon for his 15 years of leadership and service. Incoming President Matt Biggs commented that, "From the private to public to federal sectors, Paul's incredible activism across North America on behalf of IFPTE's members will last long after he retires," while Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson said that, "we truly hope that Paul will take with him into retirement the satisfaction and comfort of knowing that he has improved the lives of thousands upon thousands of working families. IFPTE wishes him and his family prosperity and peace in this new chapter."

Shearon has been an executive officer of IFPTE since 2006 when he was elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the union. Concurrent with that role, he also served as IFPTE Organizing Director and refocused and energized IFPTE's strategic growth through organizing and recruitment in all sectors and in both Canada and the U.S.  Shearon also turned his attention to IFPTE's finances and shored up the union's ability to weather financial difficulties as well as the ability to provide needed resources for organizing.  In 2018, Shearon was elected IFPTE President alongside Biggs , who was elected IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer.  Shearon, an immigrant to the U.S., was appointed to co-chair the AFL-CIO's Immigration Committee and also served on the AFL-CIO Commission on the Future of Work.  Before Sharon was an officer of IFPTE, his work and creativity as SPEEA-Local 2001 Organizing Director was instrumental in helping members win the 40-day SPEEA strike in 2001 and the 105-day Hydro One strike in 2005.

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Convention Starts with Invocation and InDigenous Opening

On the Conventions' first day, the proceedings began with an invocation delivered by Reverend Joel Rudolph asking for all the gathered IFPTE leaders to be blessed with strength, wisdom, and health during the Convention and beyond.  Rev. Rudolph's invocation included a blessing for Richard Trumka and his loved ones. 

Reverend Joel Rudolph delivering the Invocation at IFPTE’s 60th Convention

This IFPTE Convention was the first to include a land acknowledgment of the indigenous territories and indigenous people of North America. Pat Oakes, who serves on Society for United Professionals-Local 160's Indigenous Relations Committee and comes from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne, delivered the Indigenous Opening. 

Oakes' remarks noted that "our union membership is spread across North America and all of this area is on traditional lands of indigenous peoples"  and acknowledged First Nation and American Indian cultures and tribes throughout what is now Canada and the U.S. Oakes also shared the Seven Grandfather Teachings as guiding principles: "honesty, humility, courage, wisdom, respect, generosity, and love."

New Federation Leadership Steps Up

Coming into the Convention,  President Paul Shearon had announced his retirement, with IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Matt Biggs running for President and Eastern Federal Area Vice President/EA-Local 1937 President Gay Henson running for Secretary-Treasurer. Both Biggs and Henson were unopposed and elected by acclimation.

This IFPTE Convention saw  a number of  Executive Council members retiring, stepping side, or moving up and giving a new group of IFPTE leaders an opportunity to serve on the Council.  Most if not all of the new leaders have risen through the ranks  and are stepping up to lead on the have been mentored by departing or current Executive Council members. 

Read IFPTE's press statement on the "New Era for IFPTE" underway with IFPTE President Matt Bigs and IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson.

IFPTE Officers are sworn in by departing President Paul Shearon

Executive Council Vice Presidents Elected by Acclimation (New VPs’ NAmes Listed in italics):

Gerald Newsome  - Executive Vice President,  Atlantic Area Vice President

Katie Barrows - Southeast Area Vice President  [New area established by Amendment  1, Merge Midwest Area into the Northeast Area, Create Southeast Area]

Joel Funfar - SPEEA Area Vice President

Frances Hsieh - Western Area Vice President

Michelle Johnston - Canadian Area Vice President

R. Matthew Joyce - SPEEA Area Vice President

John Mader - Western Area Vice President

Richard Mahe - Canadian Area Vice President

Sean P. McBride - Atlantic Area Vice President

Renae McKenzie - Eastern Federal Area Vice President

Denise Robinson - Northeast Area Vice President

Ryan Rule - SPEEA Area Vice President

Jamie Uyeunten - Western Federal Area Vice President

Gus Vallejo - Western Area Vice President

Read accolades for IFPTE President Paul Shearon and departing IFPTE Executive Council members Mazen Alsabe, Larry Griffin, Dr. Lee Stone, Scott Travers,  and Tina Zellmer.

To Honor and Thank IFPTE President Paul Shearon for His Service to the Federation

In Recognition of Canadian Area VP Scott Travers for His Service to the Federation

In Recognition of Midwest Area VP Tina Zellmer for Her Service to the Federation

In Recognition of Western Area VP Laurence Griffin for His Service to the Federation

In Recognition of Northeast Area VP Mazen Alsabe for His Service to the Federation

In Recognition of Western Federal Area VP Dr Lee Stone for His Service to the Federation

Policy Resolutions Passed at 60th Convention

In Support of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act

• IFPTE "will publicly extend its support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, educate our affiliate members, leadership and general public on the importance of this act, and heartily advocate for the passage of the act in all relevant political arenas" 
  

Promoting Access to Justice Through Solidarity

• IFPTE will "strike a working group tasked with convening representatives from our Locals working within the justice system, to discuss ways to promote information sharing, collaboration, mutual support, and solidarity around our shared interest in access to justice issues"
  

Real Action on Climate Change

• "IFPTE demands real action on climate change and calls on federal, state and provincial governments in both the United States and Canada to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and set a path towards net-zero carbon emissions" 

• "IFPTE supports putting a price on carbon, shifting towards electrification of transportation relying on renewable and low-carbon energy, including nuclear and hydroelectric power, and ensuring a just transition for worker impacted by the fight against climate change" 
  

In Remembrance of the Children Who Suffered at the Hand of the Canadian and American Indian School Programs

• IFPTE "calls on the Canadian government to implement all 94 Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, with a particular emphasis on Call to Action 75, which urges the federal government to, “develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, maintenance and protection of residential school cemeteries"

• IFPTE "will call on Congress to fully fund the Federal Indian Boarding SchoolInitiative announced by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in June to provide for a comprehensive review and report out of the Indian Boarding School system, particularly toward identifying cemeteries and burial sites"

• "To pay respects and to honour all of the Indigenous children who suffered as a result of these 39 program, the Federation shall formally administer a land acknowledgement at the start of each 40 convention going forward" 

Fulfilling the Promise of Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Workers and Ensuring Equitable Access to Higher Education for all Canadians and Americans

• IFPTE “will call on the U.S. Department of Education to commence an audit of student loan accounts of borrowers who are potentially eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program”

• IFPTE “will join with labor unions, organizations representing student loan borrowers, and other groups to request the U.S. Department of Education reform the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and give affected public service workers a seat at the table”

• IFPTE “will join with coalition partners to call on the U.S. Department of Education to cancel the student loan debt of all public service workers with a decade or more of service and give pro-rated credit to those with who have served for less than a decade”

• IFPTE “will support legislation and policies in Canada and the U.S. to ensure equitable access to debt-free and tuition-free public higher education, to reduce the burden of student loan debt, to restore and increase public funding for post-secondary education and services, and to protect public sector jobs in higher education from privatization”