Supporting UAW all the way

To the Journal editor:

Four weeks ago, nearly 50,000 United Autoworkers at General Motors walked off the job, starting the largest private sector strike in more than a decade.

The UAW workers’ demands aren’t radical: fair wages, affordable healthcare, job security, a defined path for a job for temp workers, and a fair share of the stunning profits enjoyed by GM.

In 2008, GM was on the verge of collapse. The company was so financially strapped that it had to accept a government bailout, courtesy joe and jane-taxpayer to stay afloat. The UAW joined with the rest of us taxpayers in saving GM, accepting concessions on their benefits and wages that helped keep the company above water during the hard days that followed. The UAW’s message to GM now is simple: “We stood up for you, now we stand up for us.”

Make no mistake, our brothers and sisters on strike with the UAW are now in life or death battle with a corporation that seems intent on forgetting the sacrifices of the UAW and putting shareholder profit and CEO pay before the needs of their workers. GM has even threatened to stop paying health care for striking workers and has sought court injunctions to prevent workers from picketing outside plants.

In many ways, this strike is only a small sign that we’re in the era of a resurgent Labor Movement. Workers everywhere, organized and unorganized, blue collar and white collar, are finally saying enough is enough and demanding an end to unbridled corporate avarice. Each successful strike action seems to give rise to another and another. Buoyed by increasing public support for unions and angered by soaring income inequality during times of unprecedented corporate profit, the United States has found itself in the midst of a veritable strike wave.

The U.P. Labor Federation stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the UAW, and with any worker that chooses to use their most serious tool to achieve their goals. We pledge to offer our support in any way we can. At the end of the day, every working person has to remember that we’re all in this together. We don’t cross picket lines, and neither should you.

Our labor federation meets the third Thursday of every month. If you are a union member interested in helping our movement by becoming active in your labor council, email me at uprlfcoord@gmail.com.

ALEX GUSTAFSON

Marquette

Reader’s motto for election?

To the Journal editor:

Vote Democrat: Make the United States AVERAGE again.

STEPHEN OLSEN

Negaunee

Tennis association says ‘thanks’

To the Journal editor:

The Marquette Tennis Association would like to extend a sincere thank you to Northern Michigan University President Fritz Erickson and his team for their efforts in restoring the Wright Street tennis and pickleball courts.

Use of the courts will help promote the well-being of the community and will provide the youth of Marquette an opportunity for outdoor exercise and a fun family activity as an alternative to electronics.

We appreciate your vision and are most grateful that NMU chose to make these courts available for community tennis and pickleball players.

Sincerely,

JOE DOWNS

Marquette Tennis Association President

1977 NMU graduate

and

JOE HAVICAN

MTA secretary-treasurer

NMU 1987 tennis team