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Detroit, Michigan 48214 | p. (313) 926-5000
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From the readers
Thankful for negotiated health care
Don’t you hate it when the doctor says, “I’ve got some good news, and I’ve got some bad news. The good news is we found it early, and the bad news is there was something to find.”
When I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, I had three thoughts come to mind. The first: “Oh my God, I have cancer.” The second: “Oh, thank God I have health care coverage.” And finally: “Oh my God, what if I didn’t have health care coverage?”
Would I be one of the millions of Americans who would be faced with the choice of losing their homes, pulling their kids out of college, buying food, or do I save my own life by paying for treatment? I cannot imagine having to make that decision.
God bless the UAW for negotiating health care benefits in my behalf.
Brothers and sisters, rest assured that the corporation you work for, whether you are active or retired, does not offer health care coverage out of the kindness of their hearts, or their overpowering sense of obligation to the health and well-being of their current and former employees.
With a global economic meltdown, a GM bankruptcy and mounting pressure from every direction, (including the U.S. Treasury Department), the UAW was able to maintain basic health care coverage, pensions and supplements for our retirees, and save base wage and base health care for our active employees.
As a union, our expectation is that once GM returns to profitability, we will remind them that the UAW, active and retired, shared in the sacrifice. We will also remind them that we expect to share in the success.
For the record, if all goes well, I will be fine. I’ll endure the pokes and prods of doctors and nurses and robots. I am scheduled for robotic radical prostatectomy surgery at UAW-represented Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich., and I’ll be in good hands.
So guys, get your PSA bloodwork done every year. Conquer the audible fear when you hear the snap of a latex glove and the words, “You’ll feel a little pressure.”
Save your life for your family, friends and loved ones.
By the way, next time a doctor tells you there’s some bad news, you can tell them you have some good news: You have health insurance.
Brian Fredline
UAW Local 602 president
Lansing, Mich.
The urgency of health care
Why does anybody worry that the government will choose your doctor? I’ve always had my doctor chosen by the hospital or place of treatment and kept the doctor or found one myself.
Urgency chooses for us.
We need a public option because the insurance companies will continue to escalate the price of everything for maximum profit. Medicare works well and spends less over private insurance companies.
Without a public control and oversight of the system, prices will continue to escalate until no one can afford health care but the rich.
Robert B. Clipper
Bruce, Wis.
Joe Wilson brings a new low
I am thoroughly disgusted with the behavior of the Republican Party in general.
But one particular individual, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, brought the GOP to a new low
during President Obama’s speech before Congress in September.
As a National Guard colonel, Wilson’s public display of disrespect for the U.S. commander-in-chief was even more egregious because it betrayed the high tradition of the military officer corps.
I hope all UAW members and retirees will show how they feel about Joe Wilson.
Let’s avoid South Carolina as a vacation spot until Wilson is defeated by his Democratic opponent, Rob Miller, a fine and civil man and an Iraq War veteran.
Tom Barden
Toledo, Ohio
Level the playing field
Fifty-eight countries tax imported products with a value added tax (VAT). Three do not: the United States, Gibraltar and Saudi Arabia.
The VAT ranges from 5 percent to 25 percent and must be paid the moment the goods are imported. Level the playing field on trade by imposing the same VAT tax percentages every country levies on our products and use their system.
The United States should charge a VAT tax on all imported products, and then President Obama can pay for health care with this revenue.
Dennis A. Kahoun
UAW Local 573 retiree
Fairfield Glade, Tenn.
Let the dream live on
My father was an original “37er,” working at General Motors in 1937 at the Linden, N.J., plant before the UAW was an active component there. Dad proudly wore his white UAW “Meet the Challenge” cap. He supported the UAW 75 years – 37.5 working, 37.5 retired – and he met the challenge every day of his life, especially when his health began to fail. He entrusted me with his two most valuable possessions: his UAW ring and cap, which I wear with pride. Let the dream live on as we look confidently toward the future.
Ed Moskal Jr.
Ocean Township, N.J.
(Editor’s note: Moskal is a history teacher. His father, Edward W. Moskal, a member of UAW Local 595, died Nov. 28, 2008.)
Don’t forget the retirees
As a retired UAW GM member, I enjoyed and appreciated Charlie Fisher’s letter (September-October “From the readers”) reminding active members that the benefits they enjoy came from the picket lines retirees manned for months during contract negotiations.
Recently, UAW GM (and UAW Chrysler) retirees lost some of those benefits in negotiations. I for one wouldn’t mind getting them back in the future.
So if you plan to retire as a UAW member, your top priorities in future contract negotiations should be to improve benefits and your pension. Get these and lock them in.
Short-term gratification doesn’t hold a candle to long-term stability.
And don’t forget UAW retirees. Show us we didn’t pound the pavement for nothing.
Donald Rathbun
UAW Local 602 retiree
Williamston, Mich.
The luxury of time
In answer to why UAW retirees love to write Solidarity letters to the editor: We have more time, we lived through more of life and we have seen war, peace and the Great Depression.
M.B. Kemmerer
UAW Local 1695 retiree
Fontana, Calif.
Kudos to Tom Brune
I’m not a UAW member, but I read my daughter’s Solidarity. There was a particularly well-written article in the last issue (September-October) called “Why the op-eds are off base,” by Tom Brune of UAW Local 2250. I’m totally sick of the media bias against domestic vehicles. And as a former General Motors engineer in the 1980s, I believe the general public needs to see more articles like Brune’s. The truth is out there, and the public needs to know.
Dennis Strahle
Eagle, Mich.
How to buy a UAW flag
I’d like to buy a UAW flag to fly below my American flag.
In 1986 my husband retired from Ford’s Wentzville (Mo.) plant, and I retired from the Cahokia School District 187 of Cahokia, Ill.
We’re both staunch union members, and this information would be greatly appreciated.
Ralph and Betty Davis
Truman, Ariz.
(Editor’s note: According to the our Purchasing Department, you may contact this company directly to order a UAW flag: J.C. Goss Co., 6330 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48207; phone: 313-259-3520; fax: 313-259-9595. Goss will customize the UAW flag to anything and make it any size you want.)
