Call Letter and Information

USW Rapid Response Conference
February 3 – 6, 2009
Washington, DC

October 16, 2008

To: All USW Local Union Presidents, Recording Secretaries and Rapid Response Coordinators

This will serve as an announcement that we will be holding a National Rapid Response Conference beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3 and ending at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC.  (Overflow sleeping and meeting rooms will utilize the Omni Shoreham Hotel across the street.)
 
With a new President and Congress, this is an ideal time to advance our issues in Washington.  The Rapid Response Conference will provide us an excellent opportunity to fight to enact the Employee Free Choice Act, work for better trade policies, grow support for anti-sweatshop legislation and health care reform, and other important topics.  We will hear from leading elected officials and we will let our voices be heard once again on Capitol Hill.

In addition to lobbying and plenary sessions, workshops will focus on building and maintaining local union networks. Conference attendees will gain a much better understanding of the challenges we face and how to keep the momentum and energy moving forward.  

This conference will be unique because a substantial part of it will be merged into a Good Jobs / Green Jobs Conference which we are sponsoring jointly with our partners in the environmental movement.  Rapid Response has a history of partnering with international labor advocates, students and other community groups to fight for our common goals, and the joint sessions of this conference will be done in that tradition.  We will be coming together with others from around the country to confront the energy crisis and the need to develop “Green Jobs” – jobs that are both high paying and environmentally friendly. 

There will be a registration fee of $125 per delegate to cover the costs of conference materials and a dinner one evening.   We urge all locals to make a strong effort to send representatives to this important conference, including as many members of your Rapid Response Team as possible.  

Rapid Response Conference Registration (on-line registration is available here)
Please register for the conference in advance in one of the following ways:

• Register on line here.  Follow instructions  (checks may be mailed to the USW Rapid Response address below); or

• Fill out and fax the enclosed registration form to the USW Rapid Response Department at 412-562-2266 (checks may be mailed to the USW Rapid Response address below); or

• Fill out and mail the enclosed registration form and your check (made payable to USW International Secretary-Treasurer) to the USW Rapid Response address below: 

United Steelworkers
Rapid Response Department
5 Gateway Center, 7th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA  15222

Questions may be directed to the Rapid Response Department at 412-562-2291. 

Hotel Information
We expect a very large turnout for the conference, so please make your hotel reservations quickly. 

Blocks of rooms have been reserved at the Marriott Wardman Park and Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC, for all USW attendees.  Rooms will be made available at the Marriott Wardman Park first, with overflow rooms available at the Omni Shoreham.  Attendees should make their own hotel reservations by calling the hotel at the numbers below and referring to “USW Rapid Response Conference.”  If you wish to book your hotel reservation online, you may select the hotel link indicated on the USW website.  The hotels will accept reservations until January 13, 2009.  Making reservations after this date will likely result in higher rates and being sent to other hotels.

Marriott Wardman Park Rates: The single/double conference rate is $209.00; triple rate is $229 and quad rate is $249 per night.   All rates are subject to 14.5% tax.   A first night deposit is refundable up to 72 hours prior to your arrival.   If cancelled after that time, the deposit is nonrefundable.  

Marriott Wardman Park
2660 Woodley Road NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-328-2000
Toll free:  1-800-228-9290

Omni Shoreham Rates: The single/double rate is $219.00 per night.  All rates are subject to 14.5% tax.  A first night deposit is refundable up to 72 hours prior to your arrival.   If cancelled after that time, the deposit is nonrefundable.

Omni Shoreham
2500 Calvert Street, NW     
Washington, DC  20008      
202-234-0700
Toll free: 1.800.THE.OMNI

Airline Arrangements
We have made special arrangements with Gateway Travel Management for air transportation to the conference.   Please call Gateway Travel at 1-877-439-0374 to book your flights.   Refer to Group Code G5730.

In solidarity,

Leo W. Gerard                 James D. English
International President      International Secretary-Treasurer