November, 2008

Barack Obama, Economic Justice, Politics, Press Releases, UFCW Values

HISTORIC VICTORY FOR WORKING FAMILIES

Nov 05, 2008

WASHINGTON – The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) endorsed President-elect Barack Obama’s candidacy in February because his run for the White House was based on renewing hope for the middle class—on restoring the American Dream for America’s workers. UFCW members nationwide were excited and energized by Barack Obama’s message. And that excitement and energy unleashed an unprecedented nationwide mobilization and outreach effort that reached millions of working families across the country to help secure Obama’s historic victory.

“We pounded the pavement, worked the phones and went door-to-door,” said 22-year-old Samantha Miskevich, Fish Department manager at an Acme Supermarket in Limerick, Penn., and member of UFCW Local Union 1776. “I’ve never worked so hard or talked to so many people. This election was about saving the middle class.”

The UFCW’s efforts were comprehensive, focusing not only on traditional battleground states, but also in expanding the electoral map in key states, including Virginia and Colorado, where UFCW members turned out in record numbers to change the direction of our country.

“This election was about getting America back on track,” said Teresa Ransone, a UFCW Local Union 400 member and Kroger supermarket cake decorator in Roanoke, Va.  “What inspired me was Senator Obama’s position on affordable education and health care,” continued Ms. Ransone, who put in extra hours volunteering to phone bank and canvass for Obama in southwestern Virginia. “He proved time and again why he was the best candidate.”

UFCW local unions across the country were critical to countering misinformation, informing voters about the issues that matter to working families and ensuring that successful get-out-the-vote operations were in place.

While the hard fought election is now over, the UFCW efforts to rebuild our ailing economy and strengthen our middle class have just begun.

The UFCW looks forward to working closely with the Obama Administration and Congress to restore good middle class jobs to our communities.

“We know change cannot come overnight,” said Ransone.  “But working people are ready to support President Obama and our other elected leaders to put economic policies in place that work for the middle class. Electing Senator Obama was the first step, but there’s more work to be done. We’re ready and committed.”

 

2008 Presidential Election, Barack Obama, Economic Justice, Elections, Politics, Press Releases, UFCW Values

McCain Trades Away America

Nov 05, 2008

Washington, D.C. – As Senator John McCain tries to portray himself as a candidate who cares about America’s working class, his trip to Colombia and Mexico this week to highlight his support for “free trade” is another indication of how out of touch he is to the economic plight of America’s workers and their families.

Senator McCain has borrowed from the Bush Administration’s playbook of supporting trade agreements that have devastated the economy and sent good, middle class jobs overseas.  He has consistently voted for unfair trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and supported China’s entry into the World Trade Organization despite its ongoing history of human rights and workers’ rights violations.  To add insult to injury, he also voted against measures intended to help stem the flow of jobs lost due to these agreements.

These unfair trade agreements have resulted in the loss of high-wage jobs across the manufacturing sector and damaged our country’s long-standing reputation for technical innovation.  NAFTA has contributed to the loss of approximately three million high-wage manufacturing jobs in the United States since 1994, and the loss of high-wage manufacturing jobs to China has forced many Americans to work for substandard wages and benefits—further endangering our country’s economic stability and security.
America’s workers cannot afford four more years of a leader who favors corporate interests over the well being of America’s middle class.  The 2008 election provides us with an opportunity to elect a leader who will be tougher in demanding a fair trade system that puts America’s workers first.  The UFCW will continue to fight for trade reform by mobilizing its 1.3 million members to ensure that Senator Barack Obama becomes the next president of the United States.

2008 Presidential Election, Barack Obama, Economic Justice, Elections, Politics, Press Releases, UFCW Values

McCain-omics Will Hurt America

Nov 05, 2008

Washington, D.C. – Senator John McCain once admitted that he just doesn’t understand the economy, and his recent economic plan proves that to be true.  By giving big tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy few, supporting trade agreements that have contributed to the loss of good, middle class jobs, and creating a new tax on workers’ health care benefits, McCain-omics means four more years of hardship for America’s workers and their families.

McCain-omics recycles the failed economic policies of President Bush and builds on the president’s seven-year record of fiscal incompetence and mismanagement.  Over the course of the Bush Administration, America’s debt has increased to over $9 trillion, gas prices have climbed to over $4 a gallon, and the share of mortgages entering foreclosure is at the highest level on record since 1979.  In addition, the number of uninsured Americans, including children, has increased to 47 million, and the cost of health care has risen three times faster than inflation and wages.

While Senator McCain tries to portray himself as a maverick who cares about America’s workers, McCain-omics marches in lockstep with corporate America and ignores the needs of  working men and women who are struggling to cope with the high cost of health care, housing, food, fuel and education.  In fact, McCain-omics adds to the economic burden of America’s workers by creating a new tax on working families by making employer-paid health care premiums part of taxable income.

The 2008 election presents us with an opportunity to elect a leader who will bring positive economic change and put the needs of America’s workers above corporate interests.  The UFCW is fighting for the type of change that is needed to restore the American Dream—including good jobs, affordable health care, retirement security, worker safety and the right to choose a union—by mobilizing its 1.3 million members to ensure that Senator Barack Obama becomes the next president of the United States.