Clean products
The latest stories about the tainted toothpaste and other foods made me decide never to purchase any products made in China. Not only does the Chinese government exploit its labor force by paying people low wages and making them work under unsafe conditions, now its food product safety is in question.
The pet food that killed some animals and the counterfeit drugs that have entered our pharmacy system are dangers we face as we continue to import these cheap products.
China is a government that is lacking in ethics, and we should avoid buying these exports until they play by fair international trade rules.
Frank R. Mikler
UAW Local 774 retiree
Lancaster, N.Y.
Family values
The Workers’ Words feature in Solidarity (July-August) by Dona Jean Gillespie was so touching and meaningful. Every family should realize the importance of what she conveyed.
I just had a family reunion, and we all shared memories discussing our time together. I’m sending a copy of Dona’s story to my family as a reminder of our family values.
Gladys Old
UAW Local 889 retiree
Tumbling Shoals, Ark.
Thompson and labor
Much has been said and written about former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson entering the race for president.
As a native Tennessean, please let me inject this important thought: If you like Cowboy George and Buckshot Cheney, you’ll absolutely love Fred D. Thompson.
The professional actor and paid Washington lobbyist is lining up the same team of campaign players that helped put our present great Iraq strategists in power nearly seven years ago.
Even a hillbilly like me knows Thompson's labor voting record while in the U.S. Senate (13 percent) isn't in the best interests of working men and women. He needs to be “nipped in the bud,” as Barney Fife from Mayberry used to say, as soon as possible.
Don Corn
UAW Local 737
Nashville, Tenn.
Talk up UAW
A few years ago there were radio and TV ads talking up the UAW. I think we need them back to combat all the anti-union talk in the media.
Too many people think union workers are overpaid and lazy.
Ron Pociask
UAW Local 2280 retiree
Holly, Mich.
Do it for Walter
It is with great pride that I write this. At our membership meeting, we voted to pass an Executive Board recommendation to purchase a brick honoring Walter Reuther's 100th birthday and to help maintain his memorial.
There are few people of the 20th century whose resume would allow them to share the stage with President Reuther's contributions to working people.
My local celebrated its 50th anniversary, and our charter is signed by Brother Reuther. From our local members, we just wanted to say, “We did it for Walter.”
Ralph Lyke
UAW Local 624
East Syracuse, N.Y.
Profits, not care
Whether you agree or disagree with Michael Moore’s bent on health care with his latest movie, “Sicko,” it should be obvious to all that the profit in health care comes out of the care, not the profit.
Improved health should be our goal, not improved profits.
Robert P. Thibodeau
UAW Local 2500
Detroit
Operating on the cheap
America is imploding from the inside due to jobs being outsourced and the infrastructure collapsing before our very eyes.
Without workers contributing to local, state and government taxes and Social Security, the very fabric of our society is collapsing. Revenue that would normally be generated for the roads, schools and bridges is being outsourced, and we are operating on the cheap.
Big business and shareholders continue to make money on foreign investments, while sacrificing the middle class here at home. Corporate executives continue to rob and pillage companies with large bonuses that are not performance based but entitlement based — all the while leading the companies to virtual ruin.
We cannot tax our way out of this quagmire. It is time to hold corporate America responsible for their actions.
This used to be a government for the people and by the people not for the corporations and by the corporations.
Elections are in 2008. Get involved, read up on the candidates and let’s take our country back.
Gary Gauthier
UAW Local 1248
St. Clair, Mich.
For the Record
In the July-August issue of Solidarity, we said Daphne Rice was from UAW Local 848. She is from Local 898. Also, congratulations to Sister Rice, who won the national competition for Ms. Galaxy in July and is the first African-American winner.
