From the fall 2008 issue of the IBEW Journal

Swiftboat Vet Takes on McCain

After 39 years in the IBEW, three tours of duty in Vietnam and some high-profile political activism during the 2004 presidential election, Jim Wasser, a member of Joliet, Ill., Local 176, has earned the right to begin easing into his November retirement.

But Wasser, 62—who served in the Navy with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and was one of the “band of brothers” who took on the Swiftboat attack ads on Kerry’s military service—says, “I have one tour of duty left and I want to get it right.”

Wasser is on the road again, reminding workers that Sen. John McCain, despite his heroic record of military service, has voted against veterans’ needs as a legislator. “I want people to know about McCain’s agenda and to call on all vets and working people to let McCain know that his agenda is wrong on pocketbook issues,” says Wasser.

Some 2.1 million union members, or 14 percent of all union members, are veterans of military service. From now until the election, Wasser is working full-time with the AFL-CIO’s Union Veterans Council to bring together union leaders and members who are veterans to speak out and hold government officials and candidates accountable to the needs of our returning heroes—not only in 2008, but beyond.

“Veterans need to know that John McCain has voted against veterans health care.  He’s voted against an increase in the minimum wage. And he continues to promote the bad trade deals that sent our good jobs overseas,” says Wasser.

Wasser’s activism is driven by his concern about the future of his co-workers and millions of Americans who will still be struggling to make ends meet after he retires.

“I’ve been fortunate, really, to only miss 11 weeks of work in 39 years,” Wasser said. “But my friends, my co-workers, my fellow brothers and sisters aren’t that lucky. … This year I feel everything’s at stake. If businesses could pay us all $7 an hour, they would until everyone in the middle class were dinosaurs. And we’re going to have two classes of people—rich and poor, unless we change our direction.”

As a member of a politically active local in the candidate’s home state, Wasser has paid close attention to Barack Obama’s voting record in Illinois and in the U.S. Senate. “Obama’s record shows that he understands what working people and veterans need,” says Wasser.

“We have to give Barack Obama and Joe Biden a chance and work for their election,” says Wasser. It makes a difference when the IBEW takes a stand.  “Wherever I travel, when folks find out that I’m an IBEW member, they show me respect. I can put my chest out with pride and get a lump in my throat.”