January 23, 2023

To:      USW District 10 Local Union Recording Secretaries

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

The United Steelworkers District 10 Conference is scheduled for June 11-15, 2023 at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, 250 Kalahari Blvd., Pocono Manor, PA 18349.  The first session will commence at 8:30 am on Monday, June 12, and the last session will conclude at noon on Thursday, June 15. 

Registration will be held in the Convention Center on Sunday, June 11, from 3 to 5 pm and on Monday, June 12, beginning at 7:30 am.

Conference Registration Fees

Early-Bird Registration - $300 per delegate if received by March 31, 2023

Registration Fee - $400 per delegate or $350 per delegate if registering 3 or more

Please be sure to submit registrations as early as possible.

 

 

The registration fee helps defray the cost of the conference and includes a gift and one delegate ticket to the banquet on Wednesday evening.  Additional adult banquet tickets will be available at the conference for $25 each (ages 17 & under are free).  Breakout workshops will be offered on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.

 

FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONSCall Kalahari at 877-525-2427 and reference the group name USW District 10.  Reservations can also be made online at this web address:  https://book.passkey.com/e/50394451.  The cut-off date for room reservations is May 8.

The special group rate is $194 per night, plus applicable local and state taxes for up to four people (when adding additional guests there will be a charge of $50 per person, per night.)  Children 2 and under stay free.  All rooms include FREE waterpark admission for registered guests and complimentary self-parking.  Check-in time is 4 pm and check-out time is 11 am.  Waterpark access is available from 10 am on the day of arrival until 3 pm on the day of departure.

(Over)

Kalahari has entirely cashless payment systems throughout the resort.  They accept credit, mobile payments, room charges through a RFID wristband, and offer free cash-to-card conversion kiosks.

PLEASE NOTE:  We now have a website to register for the conference online.  Go to:  www.district10conference.org.  Mail payment, payable to USW District 10 Conference Fund, to USW District 10 Conference, 1001 Ardmore Blvd., Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA  15221.  A self-addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience.  The deadline to register is May 11.  THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE. 

I strongly urge that all Local Unions be represented as fully as possible.  All hotel, lost time, per diem, and travel expenses will be the responsibility of the Local Union. 

I look forward to greeting your delegates at the conference.

In solidarity,

Bernie Hall

District 10 Director

BH:plp

Enclosure:     Return Envelope (Recording Secretary Only)

cc:       Staff Representatives

Administrative Assistants

Presidents

Unit Presidents

 

 

Breakout workshops will be offered during the District 10 Conference on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Delegates MUST choose and rank four workshops among the below list by preference order (1, 2, 3, or 4):

  • Arbitration from an Arbitrator’s Perspective:  Everything you always wanted to know about arbitration and/or the arbitrator but were afraid to ask.

  • Effective Health and Safety Committees:  Effective safety and health committees are cornerstones of effective and comprehensive workplace safety and health programs and are essential to the important work of finding and fixing hazards.  This workshop will review elements of effective committees, discuss common pitfalls, and explore how to avoid pitfalls, and implement and sustain fundamental elements that make committees effective.

  • Financial Officer Training: Learn the basics of being a Local Union Treasurer or Financial-Secretary.  From reporting, recordkeeping, and tax requirements, this workshop will teach you the expectations of being a Financial Officer.

  • Grievance Handling: Everything you need to know in one place.  If you are new and need the basics or if you’ve been around and are looking for a refresher, this workshop has you covered.  Grievance Committees are the heart of every Local Union.  Get the tools you need to represent your members.

  • History of the USW: From the Steelworkers Organizing Committee (SWOC) to today’s union, learn about the birth of our union and its defining moments.

  • How to Run a Local Union Meeting: Sometimes the basic things are the most important.  Local Union meetings are where we conduct the business of our union.  Learn how to run a proper meeting and the requirements both under our constitution and the law.

  • Labor Law Update: Led by our Associate General Counsel, Nathan Kilbert, you will hear the latest in changes to state and federal labor law.  In addition, there will be a discussion on recent NLRB case law and priorities set by the general counsel.

  • Local Union Administration (Focus on Elections): Training on Local Union Officers’ duties and responsibilities as outlined in the USW Constitution and both the Standard By-Laws for Local Unions and Standard By-Laws for Amalgamated Local Unions.

  • New Media: Hear from the staff from the New Media Department about the tools and resources available for your local.  From Local Union websites, text messaging, and social media, they’ve got you covered!

  • Rapid Response and Legislative: Rapid Response is our union’s nonpartisan grassroots education, communication, and action program that provides the necessary structure to inform every USW member about pending legislation concerning labor and work-related issues.  Rapid Response provides opportunity for all USW members to have a strong voice and an active part in the government decisions and legislative actions that affect them, their families, their contracts, and their communities.

  • Strategic Campaigns: When we’re in tough contract negotiations it’s important to show management that we’re organized and prepared.  Learn ways your Local Union can build power by engaging members and, if necessary, show the company we’re prepared in the case of a labor dispute.  We’ll cover the basic steps and strategies to consider when preparing for bargaining, including building a Communication and Action Team; educating members; preparing leaders and activists to take on new, important roles; and taking action to show solidarity and preparedness.

  • Workers’ Compensation: A local’s understanding of the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system.

Registrations for the above-noted workshops will be open to all conference delegates; please pre-register in advance at www.district10conference.org.

Workshops may change or be combined if deemed necessary

due to participation or other unforeseen circumstances.