Dear APWU Sisters and Brothers,

 Here we are in the fall of 07, with the Christmas advertising already
hitting us over the head like an 8 pound mallet. And the saddest thing
is not just the commercialization of the holiday, and its diverse
meanings to most of mankind, but the fact that we aren't safe in
celebrating in the manner that most of us have become accustomed.


What toys are safe enough to purchase for our children, grandchildren,
nieces, nephews, and friends? What toy doesn't contain lead paint,
choking hazards, and God only knows what other perilous
parts. How far have we gone to save a buck, so that greedy CEO's and
wealthy speculators could make more of what they already have too much
of?    Last week I overheard a conversation between two customers
lamenting the fact that their Kids' Happy Meals contained lead painted
toys, and wondering how things got to be so bad. The topic changed to
tainted pet food, and how sad it was that so many family pets died as
a result of imported pet food and pet food additives from China. I
couldn't help but give them my take on the situation.

How about a little NAFTA, CAFTA, and of course my favorite, SHAFTA?
How about a little bargain from Wal-Mart where low prices and even
lower wages are always guaranteed?  This company has driven more
manufacturers out of our country, and destroyed more living wage jobs
here, in the U.S.A., than anyone can imagine. Its way past the time
when folks need to realize there is a difference between cheaper, and
less expensive. No one can manufacture anything better than we can,
and if there were real competition on a level playing field, with fair
wages safe working conditions, no one could hold a candle to the
American Made Union Label.



Of course this would include stopping child labor and slave labor.  It
would mean protecting the environment. It would require workers
rights.



I believe Americans would pay a little more for safe products. As it
stands now, we can't be sure of anything we give our kids or our pets.
And we can't even be sure of what we consume. We used to read labels
to check nutritional content, and now we need to read them to see the
country of origin, and decide if it's worth the risk. Just ask anyone
who saved a buck on pet food, and then spent hundreds at the vets. Ask
any parent who is having their kid tested for lead because they're not
sure how much he ingested chewing on what they thought were safe toys.

On a happier note, I was honored to be present at the Massachusetts
AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention, where Governor Patrick signed the
states new Card Check Legislation. The governor brought the Secretary
of Labor and the Commissioner of Labor with him. Can you imagine? Mitt
Romney never met with President Bob Haynes of the MA AFL-CIO, and our
current Governor looks forward to sitting at the table with labor.
Believe me he is not at all uncomfortable with us.

The National Labor Relations Board ,(owned and operated by your
friendly neighborhood republicans) which was created to protect
employees from unscrupulous employers, has gutted the employees free
choice act, by allowing a 45 day cooling off period so that employers
can find a way to decertify newly formed unions.

This, Brothers and Sisters, tells of the real danger of republican
administrations. The make up of so many boards and panels both on the
state and national level. Even after the war criminal is removed from
the White House, we will still be subjected to the Supreme Court and
the other right-wing federal judges and appointees he has saddled us
with.

Why do I go on and on you ask? Because we began turning our state
around and we were able to elect people who are friends to labor.
Sure, they can be friends to industry also, but they are able to
strike a balance. Because labor stayed engaged in the political
process we were able to take back our state. We were able to assist
our neighbors to the north elect democrats like they've not been able
to do in years. We were able to take back the House and Senate. And if
we stay engaged, we will take back the White House and our country in
2008.

In Solidarity,

Art Mac Neil