August 4, 2003

Nation’s Largest Private Sector Union to Host Democratic Presidential Candidates Forum on Health Care Reform

United Food And Commercial Workers International Union Convenes in San Francisco July 28 through August 1, 2003

More than 5,000 delegates, alternates and guests to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union’s (UFCW) Fifth Regular Convention will gather in San Francisco, California, July 28—August 1, 2003, to set a working family agenda for 2003 and beyond.

A highlight of the 1.4 million member union’s convention will a presidential candidates’ forum on health care reform at 2:30 P.M. on July 31, 2003 at the Moscone Center. Confirmed attendees include, Governor Howard Dean, Representative Richard Gephardt, Representative Dennis Kucinich, and Ambassador Carol Moseley-Braun. Senator John Edwards, Senator Bob Graham, Senator John Kerry, Senator Joseph Lieberman, and Rev. Al Sharpton have been invited. Bill Press will moderate the discussion.

UFCW delegates, representing the United States and Canada, will address some of the most urgent economic and social issues including:

· The health care crisis in the U.S. and health care privatization in Canada;

· Wal-Mart’s war on North American workers;

· Organizing initiatives to give workers a free choice for a voice at work;

· Labor-management conflict on health benefits and pension programs; and

· The 2004 U.S. general election.

Delegates representing UFCW—America’s Neighborhood Union—members in grocery stores, food processing plants, nursing homes, hospitals, manufacturing plants and public service will meet from July 28-August 1, 2003 at the George R. Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. The UFCW is North America’s largest private sector union and has consistently grown with aggressive organizing in the growth sectors of the North American economy and workforce.

Featured speakers at the Convention include: San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (July 28), AFL-CIO President John Sweeney (July 29), Representative Loretta Sanchez (July 30) and, Erin Brockovich (July 31).

The general sessions of the UFCW are open to credentialed members of the press.