Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23rd, 2006

Be thankful, and remember the reasons why every day, not just this one.

Be thankful for a union job that allows you to enjoy time with your family, whether on holidays like this one, on the weekends or on the vacation time you get through the power of collectively bargained contracts.

Be thankful for a living wage, something millions of Americans still don’t get paid.

Be thankful for what remains of U.S. labor laws that protect our rights (and for the possibility that a new Democratic majority in Congress may actually enhance the rights of working folks, unlike the last Congress)

Be thankful that for living in a democratic republic where we can fix the remaining branch of our government in another two years.

Be thankful for family, friends, union brothers and sisters and every bit of health and happiness we have in life.

Be thankful for solidarity.

And if you already know your reasons to be happy this year, consider sharing the wealth with others, whether by spending time with the people in your life or donating to worthwhile causes (with money, time or both).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized

How It Feels to Make a Difference

Posted on November 13th, 2006

The internet is abuzz with reactions to last week’s Democratic takeover of Congress.

In one interesting display, the AFL-CIO website has a great set of graphics showing how union members voted. Which connects to a DailyKos post from TeamsterPower that reminds the victorious Democrats not to forget how the labor vote helped them win last week.

In following with that theme, Nathan Newman points out that despite what many are saying about incoming Democrats being more moderate to conservative, they are still quite favorable on issues important to working people. And those aren’t the only results that favor working people. Barbara Ehrenreich notes the success of state ballot initiatives to raise the minimum wage (which, thanks to the changes in Congress, won’t be as necessary any more).

And, of course, since we are Teamsters, here’s a link to General President Hoffa’s statement on the election results.

It feels good to make a difference in the voting booth, doesn’t it?

Links in this post:

Comments »
Filed under: elections, politics

The Coming Decision and the Importance of Being Heard

Posted on November 5th, 2006

(NOTE: Have you mailed your 2006 IBT election ballot yet? If you’re a Teamster and you haven’t, click here for more information.)

If you’re registered to vote, the chance to have your say in the future of your town, your state and your nation is only two days away. If you’re not registered to vote, why not?

Have you bought into the hopelessness and apathy of those who complain about what’s going on in the world today, subsequently throwing their hands in the air while burying their heads in the sand? Do you not understand that the privilege of being a citizen in a democracy relies on the obligation of being a citizen?

If that last sentence didn’t make sense to you, perhaps I can explain it. Being a citizen in a democracy is both a privilege and an obligation; enjoying the privilege demands exercise of the obligation. Or to put it more bluntly:

Use it or lose it!

And the stakes are as big as ever, especially for the working class Americans.

This Tuesday, we’ll all have the opportunity to decide whether we think hardworking Americans deserve a higher minimum wage, or if we think people struggling to earn a living at Wal-Mart already make too much.

This Tuesday, we’ll get to send people to Congress who believe the Bush Administration’s Labor Board was wrong in the dozens of decisions they’ve made that strip workers of their basic protections; or we’ll get to send people who think the rights (and ever-increasing profit margins) of CEO’s are more important than whether or not their employees get to associate freely and decide for themselves on whether to join a union or not.

This Tuesday, we get to send a message about the way the country is being run, whether we think trampling the Constitution in security’s name is right or wrong.

This Tuesday, we get to decide. But only if we bother to vote. Only if we care enough to get involved in the choice of who will represent us, whether it be in town hall, the state house or Congress. If you’re registered, it’s up to you. If you’re not, you’ve missed the opportunity this time around, but you still need to register for next time – because the stakes will still be high next year (and especially in 2008).

Comments »
Filed under: elections, politics