CHICAGO – Shawn Stead was so eager for AFSCME’s 47th International Convention, he parked himself in a prime spot on Saturday to be the first of thousands to receive his official delegate badge.
“I’m a strong union supporter,” said Stead, a senior HVAC technician for the city of San Diego. “It’s a better system for the worker.”
Stead is attending his second convention after joining AFSCME Local 127 (District Council 36) in 2018. He signed up for AFSCME membership immediately after taking the city job where he helps keep 1,600 buildings comfortable year-round, including fire stations, libraries and City Hall.
After six years in the U.S. Navy and 25 years in the private sector as an at-will employee, he was ready for a union job.
“When you’re in a union, you have a contract, an MOU, you have representation. The union is not the employer, and the union cannot solve all of the problems, but it certainly can make sure you are represented and advocated on behalf of,” Stead said.
As assistant chief steward of Local 127, Stead said he’s looking forward to meeting other union members with similar workplace struggles and brainstorming solutions and ideas that he can take back to California.
“I like the camaraderie of being around other people. I was impressed at last convention with the size and magnitude of the organization. AFSCME is a big-time player,” Stead said. “I like being part of something that is larger than myself.”
During Convention, Stead will attend the Sector Roundtable for public works employees, where other AFSCME members in his line of work will gather to learn from each other.
“It’s a new energy, meeting other people from places who are going through the same thing,” Stead said.
He expects the weeklong Convention to be informative and inspiring.
“It’s very professional, very polished,” he said. “It seems very big-time.”
