In our democracy, we, the American people, vote to elect our leaders. The people, not politicians, have the final say in deciding who will represent us. We cannot afford to take this fundamental right lightly. At the same time, it can be hard to make an informed choice as we are bombarded with attack ads and widespread misinformation everywhere we turn. Fortunately, candidate records and voting histories can be utilized to gain a better understanding of how candidates intend to govern if elected. In Congress, the agenda is determined by the party in power. Since January 2021 (117th Congress), Democrats ...
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My Sisters and Brothers, President Ray Curry I want to begin this first message of 2022 with a deep sentiment of gratitude for our union and for all the hard work, dedication, and fortitude our UAW family showed this past year. We had many challenges to face together, and I watched this membership rise to each one of them and support one another, as we always do. We started the year hopeful about a vaccine for Covid-19 becoming available and ended with the realization that we can only manage this deadly pandemic, and the knowledge again that we must all ...
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“With today’s passage of a bi-partisan infrastructure bill, President Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats have fixed many of the core needs that every American relies on to live, work and succeed in the future For UAW members this legislation brings reliability and job opportunities by improving the current state of our roads, bridges, water, electric vehicle infrastructure, internet capacity and electrical grid reliability. We were also encouraged by passage of the procedural rules for the Build Back Better Act (BBBA). We now look forward to swift passage by the U.S. House of the BBBA along with the Kildee/Stabenow Provision ...
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Welcome to the new Michigan Legislative Update Newsletter brought to you by Michigan UAW-CAP. The Community Action Program (CAP) of the UAW is the union’s non-partisan political arm. CAP educates members, both active and retired, on political issues that affect them and their families. Learn more about UAW-CAP, here. Voting suppression disguised as voter security After historic voter turnout in the 2020 Presidential election, which saw extremely high numbers of absentee voting and first-time voters becoming registered to vote, there was much disinformation spread concerning the presence of voter fraud. Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said, “We haven’t found ...
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The UAW International Executive Board is deeply saddened by the passing today of beloved former UAW Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks. “It is never easy losing a member of the UAW family, and it is especially hard when it is someone like my union brother Ruben Burks, who gave so much to members and the union that he loved,” said UAW President Rory L. Gamble. “He was a gentleman, and a fighter for what is right and just. I am forever thankful for his leadership and his friendship.” Ruben Burks’ long history of unionism and advocacy for social justice started in 1955 ...
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Last month marked one year since the Supreme Court handed down a wrongheaded, anti-worker decision in Janus v. AFSCME. Right-wing pundits predicted the death of the labor movement, but we fought back harder than ever. In the face of ruthless attacks on our most fundamental rights, our solidarity has only grown stronger. Five justices in Washington won’t dictate our movement’s future. We are demanding that Congress make it easier for every working person to enjoy the rights and dignities that come with a union card. Make your voice heard loud and clear, and tell Congress to pass the PRO Act.
The labor movement isn’t content to merely survive in an era when anti-union lawmakers control both chambers of Congress – we’re moving forward, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told delegates at the 2018 UAW Community Action Program (CAP) Conference in Washington, D.C. “It’s time to drop our shield, pick up our sword and go on offense for a while,” Trumka said. Trumka added that it was time to aggressively push our agenda in Washington, including protecting pensions, Medicare, Medicaid. Social Security, rebuilding infrastructure and protecting our water from becoming poisoned like it did in Flint, Michigan. “These investments will pay dividends ...
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First, NAACP President Derrick Johnson explained that there definitely is a connection between civil rights and labor. As a matter of fact, they are natural allies. And two, just as with other progressive coalitions and allies, we must stay sharply focused on the next five years to turn the tide on the attacks from the right. “We cannot have a house divided,” Johnson said, speaking at the 2018 UAW Community Action Program (CAP) Conference on Wednesday. “Those forces can only be successful in dividing the house.” Over the next five years, the country faces a census count, more elections and ...
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Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who represents most of Seattle and adjoining areas, came to America from India all on her own at 16 years old to attend college at Georgetown University because her parents wanted her to have a good education and opportunities. The first Indian-American in the U.S. House of Representatives, says the term “chain migration” is a derogatory term used to scapegoat immigrants. “The president and his supporters in immigration have weaponized the term chain migration to thwart a noble goal: keeping families intact,” she told attendees at the UAW’s 2018 Community Action Conference (CAP) in Washington, D.C. Jayapal ...
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