These agreements provide job and wage protection, union recognition and assumption of the contract by the new owners. We continue to organize those employees without union representation. Although not all of our campaigns resulted in organized shops, we have made great strides in this area and will continue to use our time, energy and resources into reaching out to unorganized utility workers. The UWUA believes strongly that our current members will be better served by our outreach efforts and that all utility workers deserve a voice at the workplace. Many other improvements have been made over the last several years as well.
Many challenges remain.
As the industries we represent face both more fragmentation as well as consolidation in the form of mergers and acquisitions, our members will continue to be affected. We will need to continue to resist deregulation when it does not meet our criteria, reach agreements with employers when warranted, organize the unorganized and maintain our place in the forefront of the labor movement on these issues. The 26th Constitutional Convention will provide the opportunity for the membership's delegates to contribute to the issues we face, and to shape and guide our policies and procedures for the coming four years. The UWUA Officers and Executive Board are confident that, with the continued assistance of the delegates and memberships, we will enter the next century with a solid understanding of the issues we face and the strength, will and unity to continue to provide services, support and solutions to maintain our jobs, our families and our future. During this 26th Constitutional Convention, further clarification of our policies and procedures will be discussed and acted upon by the membership's delegates.