The courage to change

Being part of a union means sacrificing for the greater good of all and not benefiting just the narrow-minded interests of the minority.

As Barack Obama said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, this campaign of change isn’t about him. It’s about us.

We have a chance to take the United States in a new direction on Nov. 4.

If we have the courage to change, then we need to elect Obama and as many Democrats as we can.

Randy Hoepker
UAW Local 974
East Peoria, Ill.

Clinton gave us NAFTA

I know your publication states you always back the candidate who most closely matches the needs of the union members and families that you represent, but give me a break.

In the September-October Solidarity, you break down the differences between Obama and McCain and on the subject of trade and job loss you say that, "McCain voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and still thinks it's a good idea."

Now, let's see, could that be the same NAFTA that former President Bill Clinton (whom your publication also endorsed) signed into law and still thinks is a good idea?

When will your publication and the union realize that the problems we as working Americans face today – like health care, trade and Social Security – are the very same problems we faced during the eight years of Bill Clinton.

We can no longer believe Democrats are for the working man and Republicans are for the rich. In this year of change, let's change our old ways of thinking.

Steve McCumber
UAW Local 2901
Cortland, Ohio

(Editor’s note: You’re right that President Clinton pushed for passage of NAFTA. The UAW opposed the trade deal then as well. But on balance, Clinton’s positions and record – on labor unions, health care, Social Security and a host of other issues – were far and away better for working people and retirees than those of George W. Bush and John McCain.)

Bush sidekick is no maverick

Sen. John McCain was a good soldier, but just because he was does not mean he has the experience to be president.

McCain is not a maverick. He’s a sidekick of President Bush.

Bush and McCain are the same, with pain.

Roger Schlegel
UAW Local 2357
Fort Wayne, Ind.

Can’t afford not to be union

Whenever someone pulls their UAW card and drops out of the union, I always ask why?

More often, it’s the same reasons: "Gas prices are high" or "I can’t afford it."

As the single father of a 15-year-old daughter who works only one job driving a diesel truck, I believe I understand this reasoning as much as anyone else.

But even with all of our monthly bills, I know I cannot afford not to be a union member.

Just five short years ago Freightliner cut my pay by $1.10 an hour and made me share the cost of my health insurance. Suddenly I had lower pay and a new monthly bill of nearly $300.

I had a problem, so I solved it: I voted YES to join the UAW.

We negotiated and ratified our first contract, and no longer had to share that monthly health care cost. Over the length of the contract, we got our hourly rate back, and then some.

It’s amazing how people quickly forget where we were before we ratified our first labor agreement – before the UAW.

And get this: You can get paid to be a union member. There are many discounts available to union members. (Visit unionplus.org and calculate your savings.)

Sometimes most businesses will give you 10 percent off just for asking if there are union member discounts available.

So the next time someone says they can’t afford to be a union member, remind them what it was like before the UAW.

Keith Fink
UAW Local 3520
Cleveland, N.C.

UAW memorial inspiring

I recently returned from a weekend in Onaway, Mich. While there, I went to the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center at Black Lake to see the newly constructed Memorial Walkway. I was overwhelmed to say the least.

Standing there in the quiet and walking around the newly placed bricks with donors’ names and memorial bricks to those who have passed makes you feel the struggles, the successes and the history of our union in the strongest sense.

The bronze busts of the Reuther brothers, the bricks with the names of all the UAW presidents, the eternal flame and the hand-to-hand pinwheel are the perfect balance to more than 70 years of union community and solidarity.

The memorial is inspiring.

Ray Cassabon
UAW Local 771
Chesterfield, Mich.

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