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Fellow Members
Between now and Election Day—November 6—both major political parties will invest millions of dollars making the case for their presidential candidates.
There was a time before these big money campaigns and widespread political polling, before daily discussions of “enthusiasm gaps” and “candidate likeability” percentages when union voters took a hard look at both candidates and asked themselves a simple question: “Which one has demonstrated in record and words that they are on my side?”
The world has grown more complex, but we strongly believe that question can be answered in 2012.
This Web site is designed to give our members who are still undecided about whom to vote for some facts to help decide how they will vote. Just as importantly, the site contains tools for our members to reach out to undecided co-workers, families and friends about the issues important to them in 2012.
With right-wing politicians in many states trying to restrict voter participation, the site also has information on how to protect this precious right before it’s too late for 2012.
In the real world, we never have perfect candidates or political parties. But, as forward-looking trade unionists, we have a responsibility to make the best choices for our families. We hope this site helps.
Fraternally,
Ed Hill
Sam Chilia
Members Speak
Louis Rodriguez
Chicago Local 134 retiree
Journeyman wireman
Obama:
George Bush came into office and was handed a surplus of money. He squandered it and went into debt for $10.5 trillion. We had industries like auto going down the tubes. If President Obama hadn’t made sure there was a bailout of the auto industry how many millions would have been out of work, including workers who make auto parts?
Mitt Romney
would have let them go bankrupt. That’s his mentality. He would buy it on the cheap and carve it up.
Medicare:
I propose that Paul Ryan take all the vouchers he wants to replace Medicare with and give them to his fellow lawmakers to buy health care. If it works for them, then I’ll get on board.
John Columbo
Waterloo, Iowa, Local 288
Journeyman wireman
Vision for America:
My political involvement comes from my vision of America, what I believe this country should be. My grandfather raised six kids as a Teamster driving a cement truck. He worked a 40-hour a week job.
He and my grandmother had a decent house and living standard. Now we are facing the degradation of what we value. Even with two parents working, we have high costs for day care and trouble affording cars and houses. The American dream is eroding.
I don’t want that for my son. He’s one month old. I want to leave a country like my grandpa left for his kids. There’s a lot of work to be done.
Rebecca Pessagno
Norristown, Pa., Local 380
Second-year inside wireman
apprentice
I’m 24 years old. I worked in the nonunion electrical trade for six years before I entered the IBEW’s apprenticeship. I switched because I want this to be the way of my future—with a safer environment and better wages. I’m engaged in the 2012 election because I am afraid of losing that future.
Medina Johnson
Durham, N.C. Local 289
I’m involved in the 2012 elections because I don’t want to lose the rights that we have—like women’s rights, the right to choose and our right to negotiate. As union members, we won’t agree on everything. But if we don’t come together to support candidates who will stand up for core issues—our human rights—like earning a decent livelihood and securing decent medical care, we will hurt ourselves. What good is fighting for gun rights if you don’t have a job and can’t afford a gun?
Jacquie Fields
Chicago Local 21
AT&T Call Center
Representative
We have to prevent right-to-work laws from spreading. Members of the IBEW went to Indiana to keep the state from passing right-to-work. We didn’t succeed. We can never give up on getting candidates elected who will honor union rights and the right of workers to organize.