"I get nervous when my credit score is higher than my bank's"

Illustration:
CAROL SIMPSON DESIGNWORKS

‘We can do it again'

To those who think UAW workers at General Motors don't care, don't work hard or who thought the company should have gone bankrupt: Remember that dedicated, hard-working and caring people are what made GM.

And because of an extra-special union, we had a safe place to work.
We made General Motors, and we can do it again.

Bonnie Jewell UAW Local 969
Columbus, Ohio

I'll buy what you make

I'm a fourth-generation fan of all things Mopar, so I'm only too relieved to believe this mess is on the right track to being solved for Chrysler.

Thanks to UAW and CAW members who had the strength to do the right thing. I'll support you in the future by purchasing the products you make and promote the purchase of Chrysler products to those around me.

Like many, I was upset about the White House's apparent snubbing of GM and Chrysler this past April, so I called Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin's office. I said that if Chrysler and GM went under because of a lack of support and action on the White House's part, we could always start a new political party that was more considerate of working class concerns.

When push comes to shove, get engaged and remind your elected officials that you helped put them in office.

Randy Hoepker
UAW Local 974
East Peoria, Ill.

Double standard unfair

I'm in total agreement with Brother John T. Davis (May-June, "An open letter to President Obama"), who pointed out the government's double-standard approach to Main Street and Wall Street.

I hope Mr. Obama will do the right thing and treat the auto industry with more respect than what has been shown so far. He must know we are the backbone of the U.S. economy.

I don't know where my future is anymore, but I do want to see the auto industry pull through this mess.

Keep the faith and maintain solidarity. We'll pull through just as we have in the past.

Jim Collins
UAW Local 1176
Springport, Mich.

We stepped up in wartime

From 1943 to 1946 I was in the U.S. Navy escorting convoy ships across the North Atlantic. In 1941 the United States needed planes, tanks, trucks, ships and other war material, and we need them now.

Who did the government turn to then for production of these items? It was GM, Ford and Chrysler.
I'm 83 years old, and I and others my age remember.

Will America forget and let this manufacturing go to foreign countries now? I pray not.

James Winebarger UAW Local 23 retiree
Fort Myers, Fla.

Retirees love to write!

There is a pattern I've noticed each time an issue of Solidarity arrives. The May-June issue was no exception. All of the letters are from UAW retirees, as the majority of letters printed in each issue are.

Are they the only ones who write?

Pete Milne
UAW Local 1016
Fairmont, Minn.

(Editor's note: You are correct, Brother Milne. Most of our letters do come from UAW retirees. The reason? Maybe they have more time. But perhaps your letter will spark interest among our active UAW members. Please see the box at left for information on how to reach us.)

Thanks to Mike Ilitch

I read with interest the story on Comerica Park's free advertising for GM, Ford and Chrysler. The man responsible for this – Tigers owner Mike Ilitch – wasn't mentioned. He not only supports the automakers, but also the community and our military veterans.

I think all UAW workers owe Ilitch a vote of thanks.

There are a lot of people against us union folks. It's time to support those who support us.

Tom Pokladowski
UAW Local 412 retiree
Belleville, Mich.

Great experience at FEC

My husband, James Hamlin, is a UAW Local 155 retiree. We traveled to the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center in May with about 200 other UAW retirees.

We felt so lucky to travel there by bus, attend lectures and eat to our heart's content.

It was a great experience, and we hated to leave.

Mary Lou Hamlin
Center Line, Mich.

for the record

In the May-June issue, we reported that workers won a UAW-representation election at Trump Marina hotel in Atlantic City in 2007. Actually, the successful 2007 vote took place at the Trump Plaza, which is a different hotel.

Also in that issue, a caption for our story on Vice President Joe Biden visiting a UAW plant in Missouri incorrectly identified the president of UAW Local 2379 as Charlie Fisher. He is a past president of that local. Gene Cobb is president.