I have just read that this union is going to continue sponsorship of the ARCA series race car driven by Alli Owens, which will now be a Toyota Camry. As a 20-year race fan, and now an eight-year union member, I can only express my huge disappointment in this decision. I will not cheer for a driver in NASCAR who drives a Camry (and I have had to stop supporting drivers I stood by for over a decade), nor will I do it for this union. If a Camry is made in plants in this country now, it wasn’t before, and people who buy these vehicles are in part responsible for UAW workers now having to give back wages and benefits in concessions in order to maintain their jobs. I am not overlooking mismanagement and poor choices by the respective automakers.

This is a poor choice on behalf of our management, and unionism starts with us, the workers. "Buy American" used to mean something, and every choice to buy a Camry or shop at Wal-Mart for goods made in China is now reflected in how many people you know who are unemployed or underemployed in this poor economy. Please take my IBEW emblem off of the Toyota!

John M. Klingelschmitt
Local 134 member, Chicago

[Editor's Note: Liliana Robbins, a sister from Birch Bay, Wash., was featured on the cover of the March 2009 edition of The Electrical Worker after she was fired for attempting to organize a union at her workplace. Ms. Robbins sent the following letter after attending a unit conference of Seattle Local 77.]

I felt welcomed and blessed to have been in the company of such an amazing group and organization. I could feel the solidarity in the room.

I wish to thank everyone for their support, their time and dedication to such a wonderful cause—supporting the workers of this country. Without people like you who work to ensure that workers' rights are protected, I would not be so strong in the belief that all the hard work done by the union veterans will not be forgotten or taken for granted.

Even if the union will not be allowed to enter NG Jensen Inc.—my previous employer who terminated me for participating in concerted rights—I hope that I would be allowed to join in the honorable cause of IBEW and to be afforded the opportunity to offer any support I can and be part of your wonderful organization and its work.

Thank you again. I am humbled and honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of the IBEW's family.

Liliana Robbins
Birch Bay, Wash.

Regarding the May 2009 cover photo of "The Electrical Worker," the lack of concern for personal safety in that photo is disturbing to me. I try to promote our professionalism to everyone, everyday, everywhere, including customers and fellow wiremen. This includes safety.

Those two men on the roof in that photo are in serious violation of OSHA standards, including no hard hats and no safety lines or belts. Every job I had for the last 30 years required me to have full length pants. And let's not forget the proper personal protective equipment, such as appropriate gloves while handling sharp and heavy objects—like glass panels! In today’s labor market we must exude professionalism in every circumstance. As far as that photo goes, this publication let me and every other hard-working, safety-rule-following IBEW worker down. When the nonunion is working and I am not, I tend to get a little testy! Safety is a choice; make it your only choice!

James R. Thomas
Local 134 member, Chicago

[Editor's Note: Brother Thomas is absolutely right. We erred in running that photo, particularly on the front page. We appreciate him calling us on that. We couldn't emphasize the importance of safety here any better than he already has. Please remember to work safe.]