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.

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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.