August, 2012

The anti-worker platform the Republican Party has presented at their convention in Tampa this week is really shining a spotlight on the GOP’s disconnect from the realities of everyday Americans.

Illustration courtesy of  http://paulryanmemes.tumblr.com

Instead of offering any serious plan to create family-supporting jobs or addressing the growing gap between the rich and the poor, convention speakers like Chris Christie, Scott Walker, and Nikki Haley have resorted to pitting workers against workers by lashing out at labor unions.

The GOP’s leaders, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, claim to care about the middle class. Meanwhile, they’ve challenged the very idea of the right of workers to stick together and bargain for basic rights —including fair pay, health care and retirement benefits. Unions are groups of workers who have come together to speak with one voice. When Romney and Ryan attack unions, they’re attacking working people in every community in America. And they’re revealing their true loyalties. 

More and more of our country’s wealth concentrated in the hands of the wealthy one percent. With Labor Day coming up, let’s remember that America has always been a country of, by, and for the people. Romney and Ryan envision a country of, by, and for the one percent. They know the most efficient way to make their dream a reality is to cripple America’s unions. UFCW members are standing together to make sure that doesn’t happen. We hope you’ll join us. To learn more, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Congratulations to Jonathan Larkin, pharmacy technician at Fry’s Food and Drug, UFCW steward and U.S. Marine – and now, Arizona State Representative-Elect!

Explaining on his campaign Facebook page why he ran for state legislature, Jonathan says, “Not that long ago when I was in Iraq with other Marines[, w]e fought and died for something more than coming back to politicians bickering with each other; instead of fighting for jobs, saving our homes, and better schools for our kids. That’s why there’s no time left for partisan bickering, and why I’m going to work to end it.”

Sounds like the the right man for the job! Larkin wants to focus on “Getting Real About Jobs” by investing in education and helping small business. Additionally, he believes in protecting the state’s public employees, such as firefighters, police, and teachers. As a union member, Jonathan knows how important these workers are to our communities.

Now that Jonathan has been elected, with the help of UFCW Local 99 and the support of all of Arizona’s unions, we’re sure he’ll do great things for the working people of the state, and hopefully inspire other politicians around the country to do the same.