My New Year's Resolutions

BUY UNION, BUY LOCAL, BUY AMERICAN!

Every time I take out my checkbook, I will ask myself where that money is going. If I am buying something that was made outside the US, I will ask myself whether I can live without it. If I can, I will. I will look for opportunities to buy Union made goods and services. I will choose to shop with local merchants and Union contractors.

Whenever I pull that debit or credit card out of my wallet, I will stop and think. Is this purchase going to help American workers or bleed money out of our economy to be sent overseas? Is this gift I am purchasing going to create work for my neighbors or siphon money out of my community?

I will let my local politicians know that I want my tax dollars spent here at home. I will ask them to specify MADE IN AMERICA as part of their bid specifications. I will tell them that I want competitive bidding process that rewards local businesses that provide living wages not necessarily the lowest cost.

Join me in fighting for American workers in 2012, and Happy New Year.

Buying Union! How to be sure you're buying USW-made tires.

[Reprinted from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers web site.]

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires that all tires sold in the United States carry a code which shows, among other things, the company and plant that made the tire. The code would look like this:

DOT BE XX XXX XXX

The two symbols (either two letters or a letter and a number) which follow “DOT” indicate the company and the plant where a tire was manufactured. For example, the above code indicates a tire made by B. F. Goodrich in Tuscaloosa, AL. The following is a listing of U.S. unionized tire plants and their DOT codes. By comparing this list to the code on the tire you are buying, you can be certain you are getting a USW-made tire.

United States
Code	Company/Location	USW Local Union No.
	(Parent Company)
BE	B. F. Goodrich, Tuscaloosa, AL	351L
	(Michelin)
BF	B. F. Goodrich, Woodburn, IN	715L
	(Michelin)
AN	B. F. Goodrich, Opelika, AL	753L
	(Michelin)
VE/YE/YU/8B	Bridgestone/Firestone, Des Moines, IA	310L
	(Bridgestone)
2M/3M	Bridgestone/Firestone, Bloomington, IL	787L
	(Bridgestone)
D2/E3/W1/Y7	Bridgestone/Firestone, Lavergne, TN	1055L
	(Bridgestone)
2C/4D/5D	Bridgestone/Firestone, Morrison, TN	1155L
	(Bridgestone)
UP	Cooper, Finlay, OH	207L
UT	Cooper, Texarkana, AR	752L
DY	Denman, Warren, OH	98L
	(Penslar Capital)
DA	Dunlop, Buffalo, NY	135L
	(Goodyear)
JJ/MD/PU	Goodyear, Gadsden, AL	12L
JN/MJ/PY	Goodyear, Topeka, KS	307L
JE/MC/PT	Goodyear, Danville, VA	831L
JT/MK/TA	Goodyear, Union City, TN	878L
JP/MP/PL	Kelly-Springfield, Tyler, TX	746L
	(Goodyear)
JF/MM/PJ	Kelly-Springfield, Fayetteville, NC	959L
	(Goodyear)
CC	Yokohama Tire, Salem, VA	1023L
	(Yokohama)
Canada
Code	Company/Location	USW Local Union No.
	(Parent Company)
JU/PC/UK	Goodyear, Medicine Hat, Alberta	628L

In addition to company brands, these codes will also appear on “Associate Brand” and “Private Brand” tires manufactured at the above plants. The key, then, to being sure of getting a USW-made tire is the DOT code. Be sure and check it with this listing.

Email this page

 

Last Minute Shopping Ideas

With only one week until Christmas, many of us are still wondering what to buy for those people on our shopping list. Here are some suggestions that will build a stronger economy and make you a superstar to those you love. Instead of giving that brother, girlfriend or co-worker some cheap set of barbeque utensils that will clutter their basement and end up in some future garage sale, try one of these gift ideas that will let you BUY UNION, BUY LOCAL, BUY AMERICAN.

1.      Wisconsin State Park stickers will get that special someone outdoors and into nature in 2012.

2.      10-Ride bus tickets are a great way to keep local transit workers employed and save money for the person on your list. It’s like giving somebody a week’s worth of free parking, leisure reading time, free gas and making that grand old car last another week longer.

3.      Buy that health conscious somebody an exercise class through Madison Schools and Recreation Department, the YMCA or any one of the great neighborhood centers. Your money goes a long way with their local non-profit employers

4.      We all have hobbies, interests and dreams. The gift of tuition to a continuing adult education class will garner your hugs while it enriches the life of the person who receives it. UW Memorial Union, MATC, the Goodman Neighborhood Center offer courses in everything from photography and pottery to welding and poetry.

5.      So you want to make a statement. Here is a gift that will tell that special person you want to pamper them. A gift certificate for a message will say you care about them at the same time you provide work in your community.

Every one of these gifts keeps those hard earned dollars from your paycheck from heading to China or India. Consumer spending accounts for 2/3 of America’s economy. This holiday season; use your modest income to make a difference in the lives of those around you. Besides, you don't have to wrap them.

Solidarity Singers: Singing For Our Lives

On of the joys of working in the Wisconsin State Capitol is listening to the lunch chorus sung Monday through Thursday in the rotunda by the Solidarity Singers. On Fridays, the group meets at the State Street entrance on the corner of West Mifflin and North Carroll Streets. Students, retirees, backshift workers and those on lunch break gather to reprise the great songs of the labor movement. They also belt out great new lyrics to well known songs like On Wisconsin. Their singing is equal parts catharsis, protest and evocation. The joy and enthusiasm resounds through the dome making the entire building ring.

Wisconsin is not the only place you can hear workers spreading the infectious joy that is labor music. The Whiteville Choir are all members of UNITE Local 1077 in Whiteville, North Carolina. They work at a sewing factory which manufactures men's suits. They record on Hard Miles Music.

The Choir is a regular feature at union conferences and picket lines across the South. They have performed at The Clearwater Revival, People's Music Network and Duke University. A track from their CD was featured on The Acoustic Rainbow Vol. 3.

"They are inspiring!...To young and old...to everyone" - Pete Seeger.

Give a listen to Union Power and let me know what you think. I particularly like their version of the classic labor hymn, Solidarity Forever.

"I'm pleased to report that the Holy Grail has been found in the inspired singing of the Whiteville Apparel Choir" - SingOut Magazine.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to know a new generation of trade unionists is keeping the tradition of labor songs alive. Even happier to know they are actively adding to the cannon. Keep singing.

Your Cloths Can Still be Union Made

The holidays are upon us and chances are clothing is somewhere on your gift list. Okay, so you won’t find an Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union or International Ladies Garment Workers Union label anymore, but there are still plenty of great union made cloths available. Thanks to the Internet, they can be found at reasonable prices, as well. Union members can get discounts on union made clothing at the Union Plus website.

The Union Shop has a great selection of Men’s, Women’s, Juniors and Kids clothing. They also sell hats, footwear and accessories. Union House Apparel sells a wide range of Made in the USA clothing, much of it union made. All American Clothing makes classic jeans and outerwear. Justice Clothing sells a wide range of clothing including dress shirts and slacks for men, as well as intimates, tops, shorts and slacks for women. Looking for work boots? Check out The Union BootPro.

More information about union made clothing can be found at the UNITE website. So get the perfect clothing gift for that very special person, while you BUY UNION.

Send Union Greetings

Looking for that perfect greeting card this season? The one that says you care enough to send your hard earned cash supporting working families? Teamsters Local 89 can help. There members at American Greeting in Bradston, KY make greeting cards that carry that very special sentiment you want.

 

In 2009, they were selected to create the White House holiday card for President Obama. This year, look for American Greeting cards and tell those you care about that living wages and decent working conditions matter to you. And as you shop for presents, BUY UNION, BUY LOCAL, BUY AMERICAN.

Tailgate Union This Weekend

With the Packers set to take on the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, one idea came to mind – Tailgate! Okay, but I am trying to watch my dollars and make sure I spend my hard earned money on Union made products. Just because we want to have a good time doesn’t mean we have to send our money overseas or give it to a non-union shop. Like you, I am always looking for ways to BUY UNION, BUY LOCAL, BUY AMERICAN.

I found the information below following a link on theAFL-CIO Now Blog:

MYTH: There’s nothing made in the USA anymore, especially not by unions.
FACT: Union-made products are all around us and at affordable prices. Chances are you’ve hosted a union-made tailgate without even knowing it.

• Snacks – Doritos, Lays, Crunch & Munch, Corn Nuts, Oreos, Ghirardelli Chocolates, Kraft snack products, Wise snacks, Snyder of Berlin, Planter’s Nuts
• Meats – Hot dogs: Oscar Meyer, Nathan’s, Hebrew National, Ball Park, Hormel; Sausages & Brats: Johnsonville, Armour, Eckrich, Poultry: Butterball, Healthy Choice, Hormel, Smithfield, Tyson
• Condiments – Heinz ketchup, French’s mustard, Gulden’s mustard, Land O’Lakes butter, Open Pit BBQ sauces, Pace salsa and picante sauce, Vlasic pickles
• Soft Drinks – Coke and Sprite products
• Juices – Welch’s, Minute Maid
• Beers – Anheuser Busch, Budweiser, Busch, Icehouse, Labatt’s Blue, Leinenkugel’s, Michelob, Miller, Molson, Pabst, Rolling Rock
• Footballs – Don’t forget to play catch at halftime, with a football made by Wilson. The game balls used in professional games are made by union workers in Ohio.

BONUS: You can feed and entertain your friends and family at a tailgate or in your living room and support good jobs by procuring these union-made, USA-made snacks and beverages.

Reprinted from Pro-Union & Pro-Football: How to support unions at your next tailgate or game party, by Americans Rights at Work, Blog At Work.

Oscar Meyer hot dogs are made right here in Madison, smothered them with Hormel Chili. Johnsonville brats are union made, even if the owners are big Walker supporters. Lays chips and Doritos go well with either dogs or brats. Wash that down with some Leinenkugel’s Red, PBR or Miller Light and you have the makings of a great tailgate party. Enjoy the game and GO PACK!

Where Do Jobs Come From?

Perhaps you remember reporters fanning out across the nation interviewing small business owners two years ago. The occasion was passage of tax credits for hiring unemployed workers. Every businessperson interviewed said the same thing. Tax breaks are nice but they won’t make any difference when it comes to hiring more people.

Every employer gave the same answer when asked what will motivate them to hire. The answer is more sales. More sales is the only metric number one metric business considers when it comes to hiring. It only makes sense. Increased sales tells business it needs more capacity; more parts, more equipment and more people.

Tax breaks for the wealthy goes to the bottom line – increases profits. It does not, however, tell owners they need more people. Reducing regulation reduces costs, which in turn increases profits. Again, it does nothing to increase the demand for labor. Only increased sales can do that.

So, what will increase sales? Two thirds of American GDP comes from consumer spending. That fact suggests the best way to put people back to work. The answer begins with you and me.

BUY UNION, BUY LOCAL, BUY AMERICAN. This is the one thing that you have control over and it is the most important long term solution to our current economic mess. Look at the money you spend every month. Are you consciously looking for the Made In the USA sticker on that tool you buy at the hardware store? Good for you. Are you spending a large proportion of your discretionary on electronic gadgets, cheap foreign cloths and Wal-mart junk that will turn up next spring on your garage sale table? It is time to make better choices.

Check out Label Letter, the newsletter of the AFL-CIO Union Label Department. Here you will find great information about how to buy union. With the weather getting colder, there are fewer farmers markets but some larger cities continue them inside during the winter. Contact your local building trades council before hiring that remodeling contractor to make sure you they are union and hire union subcontractors.

Here is one last suggestion. With the holidays coming, why not send Union Made greeting cards? Homestead Cards, based in Portland, Oregon has a union workforce represented by Teamsters Graphic Communications Conference Local 747M. Brighten up somebody’s holiday with a greeting card that provides dignity and a living wage.

Drink Up Brothers and Sisters

This weekend Wisconsin will be celebrating great sports across the state. Whether you are cheering for the Badgers, Brewers or Packers, you are likely to be lifting a glass of wine sometime this weekend. You choice at the checkout counter makes a difference in the lives of working people.

Enjoy your weekend while shopping UNION LABEL. Here is a list of great UFW vintages available at you local wine shop.

PARTY UNION!

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Columbia Crest

Saddle Mountain

Farron Ridge

North Star

Snoqualmie

St. Supery

Dollarhide Ranch

Scheid Vineyards Inc.

Balletto

Charles Krug

C.K. Mondavi

C.R. Cellars

Gallo of Sonoma

Gallo Estate

Rancho Zabaco

Anapamu

Marcelina

Indigo Hills

Turning Leaf

Fighting for Working Families: A Short History of AFSCME

There is an incredible sense of pride being a member of AFSCME Local 1. This is where public sector collective bargaining began. Over the years, AFSCME has time and again played a pivotal role in the struggles for workers rights for its members and better lives for the citizen we serve.

Fighting for Working Families: A Short History of AFSCME

As we once again are forced to struggle for our survival against the forces of evil and greed, we recall the sacrafices made by those who went before. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life fighting for AFSCME garbage workers in Memphis. We must honor the debt we own his memory, as well as the workers he went to Memphis to support. The fight continues -- ONE MORE DAY!

Wisconsin Recall Volunteers Contact More Than a Million Voters

This is such a cool article. It does a great job of telling the story of public employees coming together to accomplish a tremendous feat; making more than 1 million phone calls in support of senate recall elections.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/07/29/wisconsin-recall-volunteers-contact-more-than-a-million-voters/

These were all made by volunteers. No union bosses forcing them to do it. Public employees, their family members and friends giving freely of their time to right a terrible injustice. Right-wingers can try to spin it any way they want. You cannot deny the facts. Tens of thousands of volunteers made hundreds of calls each because they believe in public sector collective bargaining.