Wake-up call
The letter in the October Solidarity about shoppers being responsible for sending jobs overseas is correct. When we are too lazy to look at the country of origin of a product, we tell the big shots who run companies that it is OK to send the work elsewhere. The lockout on the West Coast should be a wake-up call to all of us — a billion dollars a day of imported stuff on ships. It does not do a bit of good to whine and complain that the bought-out politicians should do something when we the consumers don’t do anything.
Paul Laird
Local 865
Rapids City, Ill.
Thank unions
I went to my doctor the day after Labor Day and asked him how he liked his day off. He said it was wonderful. I didn't have to come in the office to see any patients and didn't have to go to the hospital. He stayed home, slept in, played with his children and just relaxed. Then I said, “You can thank the unions of America for that day off.” He said that I didn't have anything to do with it. He was wrong. I have been a union man for more than 55 years, including the last 20 years that I have been retired.
Sam Harman
Local 9 retiree
Niles, Mich.
Military orphans
I am a retired UAW member as well as a retired U.S. Air Force special operations combat controller. I would like people to be aware of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. It takes contributions to send the orphans of special operations troops to college. They lost their life for us, and I think helping their children is the least we can do. Their phone number can be found at www.specialops.org.
Patrick Hall
Local 862 retiree
Middletown, Ky.
Continue the health care struggle
I encourage all my brothers and sisters in the U.S.A. to continue the struggle for a national public health care system. Health care should be a basic essential of all citizens, based on need and not on one's personal finances. Only through a system available to all citizens will you put care back in health care. There is no way that for profit, private health care is more efficient, more economical and more care than a nonprofit public health care system.
Each journey starts with a single step, and I know that you will reach your destination.
Bill Pollock
President, Local 251
Wallaceburg, Ontario
Proud to serve
I am a member of UAW Local 651, Delphi automotive in Flint, Mich. I enjoy reading my monthly issue of Solidarity. It helps me stay informed of the labor issues from all over the nation. You can only imagine how hurt I felt to see that my name was excluded from the kudos article and list in December's Solidarity.
I have served nine years on the Burton City Council and was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in November 1999. In November 2002 I was re-elected to the Michigan House. My husband, Bill, is a member of UAW Local 659, Metal Fabrication, in Flint. He served 12 years on our school board.
While I am guessing that this is just an honest oversight, I couldn't shrug it off. I am UAW and proud and honored to serve in the Michigan Legislature representing the working families in Genesee County.
Paula Zelenko
State Representative
50th District
Proud to serve
I have been an active UAW Local 6000 member for many years in the Marquette, Mich., area who won a political office Nov. 5, 2002. I retired Nov. 1 and will remain active in the UAW.
Jim Cihak
County Commissioner
Marquette, Mich.
Editor’s note: Apologies to Paula and Jim. It was an honest oversight. We try our best to be complete. If there are other UAW members who were elected that we missed, please let us know. We want to keep up with you.
