Share
The Executive Board of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1189, meeting June 29, elected Jennifer Christensen to serve out the remainder of retired President Don Seaquist’s term.
Other officers elected by the Executive Board were Jim Gleb, secretary-treasurer and Jeanine Owusu, recording secretary. Abraham Wangnoo, Local 1189’s director of organizing, administered the oath of office to the new officers, including Scottie Rotter, the newest vice president, who was elected at the Board’s May meeting.
Newly elected President Christensen spoke to a room filled to capacity in the Duluth Labor Temple.
“I would like to thank you – the members, for allowing me to work for you – this is the best job in the world,” she said. “My thanks to the Executive Board for their affirmation of my ability to lead our great Local. Thank you to the staff for your hard work and partnership in the fight for worker justice.
“I honor and am humbled by the women who blazed the trails before me and beside me – and for the men who open doors and showed that there are no glass ceilings in this union. This is an historic day – a woman as a UFCW president in Minnesota. It is something that hasn’t been done before and it speaks to the nature of our membership.
“I am so proud to be a member of this union and stand in solidarity with all of you. Our union has done an awesome job in standing up for the workers in our industries and in our communities – but there is much more that needs to be done. In the word of George Meany – the first president of the AFL- CIO, ‘Labor never quits. We never give up the fight no matter how tough the odds, no matter how long it takes.’
“Brothers and Sisters, we are stronger together and together we will win.”
Reprinted from the UFCW Local 1189 website.