from the readers
Obama a ‘breath of fresh air’
With the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the middle class began to take back their country.
What a breath of fresh air it is to witness our nation’s CEO working for us and not against us during his first days in office.
If we stay focused and involved about what’s happening in our country, we can make our elected officials work for us and not against the greater good.
Stay tuned to what’s going on, brothers and sisters. Yes, we can!
Randy Hoepker
UAW Local 974
E. Peoria, Ill.
Reaffirming working-class values
I’m a proud member of ACT-UAW Local 7902, which represents more than 4,000 teachers at New York University and The New School (where I’ve taught as an adjunct for nearly 15 years) in New York City.
I’m writing because I was just talking with my 96-year-old father, the son of working-class Hungarians, whose values shaped his life and mine.
I read him Solidarity articles, and I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to reaffirm our values, laugh at your cartoons and share our hope for America's future under President Obama’s leadership.
Susan Mayer
UAW Local 7902
New York City
Note which party fights for us
In the last two issues of Solidarity, there were letters from fellow members who seem to question why our union leadership endorses Democrats.
The recent congressional hearings and debate on the auto industry bridge loans should answer that once and for all.
I hope all union members remember which party is standing up to fight for us.
James Schmidt
UAW Local 1853 retiree
Franklin, Tenn.
Discretionary spending Part 1
We're all well acquainted with the opposition to the auto loans needed by the Detroit Three to help weather the economic turmoil caused by the banking industry, and their lack of regulation and oversight.
During the past couple of months we have seen and heard from those who support us, and from those who do not. Given this state of affairs, I would suggest we research those in the U.S. House and Senate who would seek the failure of our domestic auto industry, and avoid their states as vacation destinations.
For example, as an avid golfer, my father-in-law used to make at least one trip each year to Alabama with friends. Now that Republican Sen. Dick Shelby has shown his disdain for American auto companies (while helping foreign auto companies set up shop in his state) my father-in-law won’t travel there because, obviously, Alabama doesn't need their support.
Chris Szabo
UAW Local 845
Wayne, Mich.
Discretionary spending Part 2
During the grassroots push in December, I wrote letters to Sens. Corker of Tennessee and Shelby of Alabama and said I would never ever spend any of my husband's hard-earned UAW GM pension again in their states.
I believe we’ve got to show these people that saying some of the things they do and doing what they’re doing to the working men and women of the UAW has got to stop.
Think about where and how you spend your hard-earned UAW money.
Judy Lemaster
Berlin, Md.
(Editor’s note: Lemaster is the wife of Carl Lemaster, UAW Local 239 retiree.)
Set an example
Speaking as a retired UAW member, I think the senators from the South should set an example by refusing the pay raise they endorsed for themselves.
You proposed a cut to our members’ wages, so why can’t you take one?
T.L. Whitelegg
UAW Local 122 retiree
Northfield, Ohio
Raves for Wrangler
After reading "Union plants win top productivity ratings" (Solidarity, January-February), I had to look twice to make sure the Toledo-built Jeep Wrangler Rubicon wasn’t mentioned and awarded top honors.
With hard work and union know-how, we can outproduce anyone.
Paul Wohlfarth
UAW Local 12 retiree
Ottawa Lake, Mich.
(Editor’s note: You are correct, Brother Wohlfarth. Please see our auto show story for more on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, which racked up several recent awards.)
EFCA: Change to fair voting
As a longtime and proud UAW member, I feel passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is vital to our survival.
A card-check authorization system of voting is the only real way to eliminate abuses on both sides of the labor organization discussion, as the time needed to decide this issue at each workplace would drop dramatically. This would stop corporations from spending large amounts of time and money to hammer employees and union organizers with threats of dismissal and inundate them with all forms of anti-union propaganda.
It’s imperative that the prosperity of the forgotten middle class be considered again, not only in this instance, but in all matters. Call this a redistribution of wealth, as some Republicans are so fond of saying. But without the spending power of the once-mighty middle class and the return to prominence of our manufacturing sector in Michigan, we all risk the probability that another Great Depression will engulf America.
Raymond P. Herrick
UAW Local 163
Northville, Mich.
