My Grandfather was a Union man. But not every Union campaign can be successful. So after 19 years, when the Union ignored the workers and management, and pushed too far, seeing the shop close and move to another state, he lost everything he worked for. There was no more Union job to ensure a retirement or the welfare of his family. When he died at a mere 57 years of age, my grandmother was left to fend for herself. Fortunately, my father was able to take her in and support her through her many years of elderly life (with many more to come). Because those Union benefits were gone. 19 years of work meant nothing. So, as a proud Union member (much to my father’s dismay) in a heavily Union industry, I have dedicated myself to working for my brothers and sisters, and those we seek to organize, to ensure the same NEVER happens to them. In short, the “bad old days” are the past and this ain’t your grand daddy’s Union movement but rather a new breed of workers helping workers fighting to improve the plight of those who labor every day. Sure bad things happened in the past. There were in fact some despicable people involved in this thing years ago. But don’t judge me on then. Judge me on what the Labor Movement is doing NOW and trying to do for TOMORROW. We won’t win every campaign. But we’ll fight like hell, listen to the workers, and be there to help them in their times of need.
