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From the Director
Region 5 Mobilizing to Address Energy Crisis
 Fuel
and electric bills are skyrocketing.
Gasoline has risen to nearly $2 per gallon. In some parts of the nation,
prices have soared even higher. California has been hit by rolling blackouts
and brownouts with electricity costs nearly doubling from last year. Energy
costs are at a crisis stage, and if something isn’t done soon the
crisis could very well throw the nation into economic chaos.
My question is: Are the refineries manipulating oil production? Are they
driving up the fuel costs so the oil companies can continue to post record
profits? For right now, there appears to be no shortage of gas, just uncontrollable
prices.
So far, Washington, D.C., has turned a deaf ear to the alarm signals.
What seems strange to me is that, all of a sudden, these energy problems
surfaced after the new administration was sworn into office. It’s
no secret that the president and vice president made their family fortunes
in the oil industry. The president appears to be paying back his Big Oil
friends for their political donations while the poor and middle class
suffer. America will not get this president’s best efforts around
the energy crisis unless he is forced to.
Since Washington doesn’t seem to have the courage to do something,
then working men and women must take matters into our own hands. Organized
labor must take the lead in mobilizing public pressure to get the federal
government to do something before factories start closing and food prices
go through the ceiling.
To get Washington’s attention, UAW Region 5 launched our “Labor
’02 Energy Campaign” in May by having all of the region’s
local unions begin a letter-writing campaign to targeted members of the
House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee. The region also organized protest rallies at targeted
U.S. congressional and senatorial offices.
It is a shame that such measures have to be taken to get the federal
government to do its job in protecting working people and their families
from greedy oil companies.
We don’t know yet how successful our efforts will be. But we will
continue to write and rally throughout this region until this administration
does something to relieve this energy situation.
Those U.S. House and Senate energy committees should be investigating
the oil companies for production manipulation and illegal price fixing.
Those found guilty of criminal activity should pay maximum penalties for
price gouging. After a full investigation, the president should put forth
a realistic energy program that will insure the nation’s energy needs
for years to come.
Contact your local union leadership for additional details on what you
can do to help with the Region 5 “Labor ’02 Energy Campaign.”
Until this unacceptable energy situation is resolved, we will continue
to do whatever it takes to help focus the government’s attention.
In closing, the Region 5 2001 Special V-CAP Drive is in high gear. The
second cruise has been well received. If you haven’t had an opportunity
to purchase your cruise raffle tickets, see your local union. This is
an important program that enables the UAW to help elect federal political
candidates who support working families.
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