WASHINGTON — Joe Hansen, President of the 1.3 million member United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) has been appointed to the United States Trade Representative’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy.
The UFCW represents workers in the meatpacking, food processing, poultry, food distribution and retail food sectors of our economy. As the economies of developing countries grow, demand for food products made in the US—particularly meat—is increasing. Hansen is committed to ensuring that American farmers, workers, and responsible businesses and manufacturers are not locked out of these emerging growth markets. Hansen’s experience in the global union movement, and his role negotiating contracts with multi-national meatpacking, food processing, and grocery companies gives him a unique perspective and the capability to ensure the voice of working people is heard in trade agreements that affect their livelihoods.
“I am so honored to accept this appointment. Food and meat industry representatives have long served on this Advisory Committee; I want to express my appreciation to President Obama and Ambassador Ron Kirk for nominating me as representative of workers in these industries. I look forward to working with Ambassador Kirk on trade policies that create more jobs in the U.S. by increasing our food and meat exports; and on improving working, living, and environmental standards for workers and their families both here and abroad—standards that will also benefit consumers, businesses, farmers and manufacturers,” Hansen said.
The UFCW represents more than 1.3 million members in the U.S. and Canada, including 250,000 workers in the food processing, meatpacking, and poultry industries. Joe Hansen began his career as a meat cutter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His talent for organizing and his passion for activism on behalf of workers quickly earned him a leadership role in his local union. He was elected to serve as UFCW Secretary-Treasurer in 1997 and President in 2004. He has been active in the global union movement since 1994. In 2003 he was elected President of Union Network International, an international labor organization representing 15 million workers in 900 unions in more than 100 countries. He was re-elected in 2005. He is also a founding architect of the Change to Win Federation.
Source: UFCW