Nov. 1, 2010 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
Once again, tomorrow is Election Day and it is important that you get out and vote for labor friendly candidates – this is the reason the day was negotiated as a holiday. You can also come to the Union Hall to help with phone banks and shuttle transportation to the polls. For voting information go to www.sos.mo.gov/media/votersGuide/ to read up on the candidates and the ballot initiatives.
From Pat Workman, Suggestions Co-Administrator:
STARTING WEDNESDAY 11/3/2010 WE WILL START DISTRIBUTING A GIFT FOR SUGGESTION APPRECIATION. THE FOLLOWING IS HOW THEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.
WE WILL BE SET UP IN THE OLD UAW/GM STORE BY THE EYE GLASS STORE.
THE RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. YOU HAVE TO BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER. 2. HAVE YOUR PLANT ID BADGE.
(NOTE) YOUR TL CAN PICK THEM UP FOR YOU ONLY IF HE/SHE HAS YOUR PLANT ID BADGE.
HOURS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
WEDNESDAY 8:00 am - 12:00 am CHASSIS & FINAL PROCESS
WEDNESDAY 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm BODY SHOP & DAY SHIFT STAMPING
THURSDAY 8:00 pm - 12:00 pm TRIM & MAINTANENCE
THURSDAY 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm PAINT & MATERIAL
SALARY, SHOP COMMITTEE AND APPOINTED PEOPLE MAY PICK UP AT ANY OF THOSE TIMES.
I WILL SET UP ON SECOND SHIFT STAMPING TODAY (11/01/2010) BETWEEN4:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
Economic fixes will come only if you vote
By Bob King
In the first three-quarters of this year, we’ve seen conflicting data on the economy, but we think it’s better than when President George W. Bush left office in January 2009. At that time, we didn’t know if the domestic auto industry was going to survive. The economy was teetering on disaster. Economists agree that we suffered a cataclysmic economic meltdown that nearly put this nation into a depression — not a recession. So there was little celebrating when a group of economists recently said the recession was over. Maybe it’s over in the academic sense, but not in the real world. We know it from the contracts we’re forced to accept. We know it from seeing workers take the brunt of this recession, while Wall Street millionaires take home multimillion-dollar payouts. We know it when we see public services slashed and hard-working public employees blamed for budget problems. And we know it when we see hungry people at street corners.
It’s popular sport to blame the Obama administration for everything, including a lack of sustained job creation. But remember, some cynically want this government to fail in order to remove all restrictions on corporations and preserve tax cuts for the ultra wealthy. That’s what got us into this hole. When government turns a blind eye to Wall Street, the only brake on corrupt behavior is when the whole thing crashes. When you give massive tax cuts to the top 1 percent of all Americans, you run up massive deficits. Where were the tea party folks from 2000 to 2008? We didn’t hear a peep about the deficit when the Bush tax cuts and an ill-advised war in Iraq were bleeding the U.S. Treasury.
We’re slowly working our way back from that disaster. With the help of UAW members who made exceptionally painful sacrifices, President Obama led the effort to save the domestic auto industry. He pushed tough financial industry laws to prevent another Wall Street collapse. And significant parts of Obama’s health care reform took effect last month. But we need much more. Thousands gathered on Oct. 2 for the One Nation Working Together march in Washington. The message was simple: Get America moving again. Economic data lends credence to the statement that we’re on our way. But the problem won’t be solved by handouts to wealthy Americans or “getting government off our backs.” It won’t be solved by half measures, either. The problem is structural, and government must be part of the solution.
The way forward is to build decent-paying jobs through significant government investments in infrastructure and green technology. We need investments in public schools and in developing more efficient vehicles and transportation systems. We need a manufacturing policy that addresses currency manipulation and other trade improprieties by our trade partners. And we need limits on outsourcing to prevent being undercut by exploited workers in other countries. We can build a better future. It all starts with better participation among Americans at the polls. Don’t let well-funded naysayers affect your civic duty to participate. Research the candidates and issues, and decide for yourself who has the interests of working Americans at heart.
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