It’s almost 2009, and change is coming!

I, for one, have faith that this group of people will help lead the country to a better place. It is a time of great transition but we as Americans have been through transition before and we can do it again. My real hope is that the large number of people who are suffering will be helped so we don’t see more homeless on the streets, more folks lined up for free food, and more desparate acts of crime against selves or others. I have hope for change.
Our state is in the throes of the worst economic crisis it has ever seen. All of us will be touched in some way by its outcome. Will we see massive layoffs as budgets are slashed in the new year? What will happen to our communities as we watch more stores closing and more empty houses that folks can’t pay the mortgage on? Will more jobs be created? Will there be help coming from the new administration? These are all big problems that require big solutions. I do have hope for change.
But change cannot happen unless this country changes. My hope is that there will be a change in the spending for this ill-fated war that is costing us billions per month. Oh, how we could have used all those billions for our economy. My hope is that industry is forced to switch to fuel that is not carbon based. The technology is obviously there. We see it every year when some group of college students race each other in the latest
battery-operated car. Many new jobs will be created in this new green economy. I have hope we will do our individual duty by changing the way we use energy in our homes and in the workplace. We can help make change happen.
Many members of Local 721 will go into contract bargaining next year. Can we meet the challenge of maintaining our current workforce, protecting our retirement, improve healthcare, and even win a positive salary adjustment? Our Local has big issues to tackle. But working together we can make that change.
All this change is right in front of us, but as our new president has said many times, he cannot do it alone. Are you ready to back him up? Many are stepping forward in a new SEIU campaign called “Change That Works.” It’s not enough just to talk about change. We have to help make it happen. And the work has begun.
We helped elect a president that supports new revenues for infrastructure and public services. SEIU leaders are on the president-elect’s transition team, helping guide the new administration in the right direction. Locally, we held our first Bargaining Conference to plan for negotiations.
Moving forward, we have three things to tackle, and working together we can accomplish these changes.
Yes, we can help hold the politicians accountable to middle class working families and the services we provide. They need to pass an economic recovery package for us, not just the banks and Wall Street. They need to assist state government so that jobs and vital services are preserved. Our economy cannot stand a continuation of low wages for the middle class while the rich continue to get richer. Why is the average worker’s pay at McDonald’s $8.11 per hour, while its CEO makes $2,359 per hour? It’s a shame, but we can help make that change. I invite you to look at the information on this website about the successful SEIU actions against McDonald’s in educating the workers and the public about worker pay versus CEO compensation.
Yes, even in this economic climate, we can start the work on health care reform. It’s an important element of the recovery, to get the insurance companies off the backs of workers so we don’t continue to see our salary increases eaten up by double digit increases in health care costs and even more folks with no health care at all.
Yes, workers should have the right to sign a card indicating their choice to join a union so they can have a say in their salary and working conditions. We need to make sure the Employee Free Choice Act passes so that private sector employees have a fair opportunity to win a voice at work. This victory will help raise standards for all. How many people do you know working two jobs? What’s up with that? Many of the things we enjoy as public sector workers — such as employee-paid health care, pensions and other
benefits — were once the standard in this country but have been taken away. We need to see a return of this standard for all workers. And we can help make that happen.
Yes, it’s all about politics because to make these changes the politicians we elected must do the right thing. Regardless of party, it’s time for the politicians to start working for us. And it all comes back to our bargaining campaign in 2009. It’s all intertwined because what impacts the economy impacts our pockets.
We started this discussion in November with the Economic Crisis meeting. And that’s why the COPE Committee has changed its focus to action, not just talk. You can get involved. The next meeting is January 15 at the Riverside, Ventura and Virgil Avenue office in LA. So mark your calendar now and come join the effort to make change happen.
Yes, we can make a change in 2009. We must make a change. But it must be Change That Works. Will you sit on your hands, or will you be part of the solution? Come on now, help make that change. It’s 2009, the children are watching, and they are counting on us to get it right this time.