Getting Organized
EFFECTS OF POLITICS ON ORGANIZING
RIGO VALDEZ Director of Organizing
Gelson ’ s Member Tony Richemond and Rigo Valdez
I still remember voting in my first election . It was actually not that long ago , I became a naturalized citizen of the United States in July 2006 . And very shortly thereafter , I was able to vote in the 2008 Presidential Election , where we elected Barrack Obama as President of the United States .
In May of this year , UFCW Local 770 held our first UCAN ( UFCW Citizenship Action Network ) workshop where we had many participants . Some participants are still working through the process and some will get to vote in the US for the very first time this November .
I had the pleasure of interviewing two UFCW 770 members about their experience with the UCAN program and about their first presidential election .
I caught up with Tony Richemond , while on his way to take the oath of allegiance and fulfill his final step in becoming a citizen . “ I feel excited about becoming a citizen . I am from Haiti and I have been here since 2012 . After the earthquake in my country , coming to the US was a dream come true ,” he said .
Tony , who works at Gelson ’ s as a meat clerk noted , “ I am going to register to vote , because it ’ s my right . I like the
Democratic Party . I have to support them . I don ’ t like the way Donald Trump and the Republican Party treat immigrant people . I am a part of those people .”
He suggests , “ right now is the best time to become a citizen . Call the union and they will help you become a citizen , just like they helped me . Our future is uncertain , and so we need all of our coworkers to vote now more than ever .”
“ I would tell my co-workers if they don ’ t vote , someone is going to vote for them , someone else is going to decide for them , they have to vote for someone that will progress the country , think about immigrant people , think about working people , and the economy , the only party that will do that is the Democratic Party ,” Tony added .
Tony Richemond registering to vote
Because we are an organizing union , we took the opportunity to register Tony to vote , so that he could turn it in to the Registrar after his ceremony .
I also got the opportunity to sit down with Jose Guzman , who turned in the last of his documentation for his citizenship process . He has passed his test and is now waiting for a date to take his Oath of allegiance . Jose works at Farmer John , where he serves his union and co-workers proudly on the bargaining committee , and as a shop steward .
“ I am very happy that I am going to become a citizen , the process was made very quick by the help that I received from my union . I received help filling out the forms , gathering my documents , turning the requested documents , I even received a scholarship to help defray the cost . I feel like this program is great , I am going to commit to helping my coworkers through the union to fill out their citizenship . “
Jose also stated “ I urge my co-workers that qualify to become citizens to do it right away . With this Presidential Election , the hate speech that some candidates spoken against us , its time to stand up for ourselves and show them with our vote that this rhetoric is not all right , I am going vote for Hillary Clinton .”
“ My vote for Hillary will be historic not just because she will be the first woman to be president of the United States , but also because people like myself became citizens to vote for her , to send a message that immigrants matter , and that we can also make a difference . I will proudly vote for Hillary .”
Talking with these two gentlemen made me proud of the initiatives that our union has to help empower our members to fully integrate and participate in our democratic process , this November have your voice heard , register , and vote .
If you would like help becoming a citizen please call us at ( 855 ) 888-7374 .
Issue 3 THE VOICE September 2016 6