I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the current state of our membership and some of the divisive and racist comments that have been made to me and others in our union. We as an organization are all about labor and promoting and fighting for issues that are in the best interest of our great organization. Labor unions are under attack by Corporate America and individuals who do not believe in organizing and collective bargaining. Unions built the foundation for the middle class. Our predecessors fought hard and in some cases lost their lives for our right to organize and collectively bargain. Today we are faced with constant attacks from lawmakers and the wealthiest people in America. The CWA triangle represents organizing, community and political action as well as bargaining and representation. The reason we engage our members politically is to fight these attacks by electing candidates who fight for our rights and who do not create laws to hurt our cause. We have one of the best collective bargaining agreements in our industry and we will fight to keep it that way.
We achieved our contract with the help of some of those candidates who have stood with us and by electing candidates that pledge to support the sisters and brothers of our union to preserve our rights, not take them away. I respect opinions that are different on both sides of any argument as long as they are respectful and not filled with hate and divisiveness. We are a family of union members working for the betterment of our organization.
I am encouraged by the energy of many of our members who have stepped up and volunteered to take on this attack on our livelihoods. I am equally disappointed in the hateful divisive words of those who speak out against our movement. I am asking for every single member and their families to vote. I emphasize the ability to maintain jobs that provide excellent wages, benefits and pensions should be a very strong first consideration when you cast your vote. It is my responsibility as your President to make everyone aware of what is at stake for our members every single time there is an election. The Executive Board has the very same responsibility as well as every member who has a role in representing our members.
I recognize our country is very much divided on many social issues and every member has feelings one way or the other on these issues, however, if we lose our rights to collectively bargain and organize, our futures will be quite different. We can agree to disagree respectfully. We can all pull together for the betterment of our union when fighting the attacks on labor. Our issues for bargaining, grievances and arbitration are completely separate from the political process and will continue to be pursued and addressed as we move forward. Our ability to be successful with those matters could very well be impacted by the results of this election. We have fought long and hard for rights that have brought many of us the ability to provide for our families that some other families just don't have.
So please get out and vote, your future depends on your vote!
