A Message from
President Ron Gettelfinger
February 2006
Greetings:
In many ways America is at a crossroads. More Americans live in poverty, including
13 million of our children. The gap between the poor and rich is widening. Our
nation’s minimum wage is not a living wage — while CEO pay is soaring.
The number of uninsured and underinsured continues to grow as health care costs
climb. Wages are stagnant. The loss of good paying manufacturing jobs and plant
closings are devastating families and communities. Workers’ rights are
taking a step back because of pro-employer NLRB rulings. Union membership is
declining.
These are difficult times for America’s working families and tough times
for America’s unions, including the UAW. We must do more than honor our
past; we must forge our future by joining together to get America back on the
right road. In the UAW, we call it the high road.
The high road means investing in our people and our communities and investing
in the best possible education for our young people – from pre-school to
graduate school. Raising the minimum wage to a living wage is getting on the
high road.
The high road means affordable and decent health care for all who need it
and fair trade agreements that include workers’ rights. It means tax, budget
and other policies aimed at keeping America a leader in research, development
and manufacturing. Protecting Social Security and strengthening other programs
for our seniors are an essential part of the high road.
More than ever, it’s critically important that all of us are involved in
politics – from the grassroots precinct level to lobbying Congress. It’s
a fight for our future.
 In solidarity,
Ron Gettlefinger
President, UAW
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