Keeping Control in 2008

We have already begun to prepare for the 2008 election battle that will be waged by the anti-union, far-right forces against our candidates. The UAW and other unions in the labor movement have steadily increased the voter turnout of union members for the last several elections. We must absolutely work hard to continue this positive upward trend.

During the 2006 elections the UAW worked hard to support candidates who would stand up for workers’ rights. Our efforts resulted in Democrats picking up 30 U.S. House seats that led to regaining control. In addition Democrats regained control of the U.S. Senate, picking up six seats.

By virtue of regaining control of the U.S. House and Senate, Democrats will be able to set the agenda and schedule hearings, markups and floor action on legislation. This will be an enormous advantage for the UAW and other unions.

In the 2008 election we must take the opportunity to influence the outcome in the targeted races by getting more of our membership involved. Through worker-to-worker and labor-to-neighbor programs, we must talk to our members, our families and our friends about the candidates and issues that are so important to all of us. We must work the phone banks, knock on doors, take people to the polls on Election Day and, above all, we must vote for candidates who will support and protect the rights of workers. We must educate UAW’s active and retired members on important issues.

We learned long ago that our hard-fought victories at the bargaining table can be lost in the legislative arena in Washington, D.C., and the various state capitols unless we elect our friends to political office.

Those whom we elect to hold public office at the local, state and national levels must address issues such as the right to organize, the right to strike, the basic right to collective bargaining, civil rights and fair trade laws. Protecting workers’ pensions, health care benefits, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security must also be addressed. Better education in our schools, environmental protections for clean air and water and strengthening occupational health and safety regulations must be a priority on our legislative agenda.

Many corporations in this country have political action committees. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Retail Merchants Association and many others all raise millions of dollars every year to elect their friends who will support their agendas. Their agendas are to weaken and undermine labor laws and reduce the protections and benefits that we currently enjoy. We cannot allow this to happen.

You should use the contents of this book to help educate our members on the important issues, get them registered to vote and, most importantly, get them and their families out to vote for favorable candidates on Election Day.