Brothers and Sisters,
As Election Day approaches in just over two weeks, we would like to remind everyone to ensure they are registered and prepared to cast their vote. An important part of being a union member is paying attention to the legislation that affects you, both at home and on the job. As Walter Reuther famously said, “There's a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls.”
The UAW has compiled a list of endorsed candidates aimed at advancing our labor movement, which you can view at the link below. You can either enter your address or browse the complete list by state. I’ve also included a link for the Michigan Voter Information Center where you can see exactly what is going to be on your ballot, including all proposals that pertain to you.
If you are interested in participating in the endorsement process with the UAW, we encourage you to get involved with the Citizenship and Legislative Committee. Union members are welcome to participate by attending candidate screening events, phone-banking, knocking on doors, and by turning out to vote. If you would like more information, please visit the link below, or reach out to your local leadership.
We bargain a lot of wins in our union contracts that can easily be reversed as a result of bad legislation. To ensure that our government works in our interest and not against us, it is crucial that our members are informed and politically active at every level of government.That means voting in every election, monitoring the voting records of elected officials, and supporting candidates and legislation who uphold our values and the interests of labor unions.
Let us all make our voices heard and vote!.
In Solidarity,
Tom Kelley
Michigan Voter Information Center:
https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/PublicBallot/Index
UAW Endorsement Information:
UAW Region 1 printable candidate endorsements screening by county
https://1869uaw.com/s/2024-General-Election-Endorsments.pdf
UAW Citizenship & Legislative (CAP) Committee Information:
https://uaw.org/standing-committees/citizenship-and-legislative-cap/
If you feel compelled to join in on local get out the vote efforts, such as phone banking or door knocking please reach out to myself personally by emailing me at president@1869uaw.com