Brothers and Sisters,
You are part of a Labor Movement that has seen significant accomplishments over the years. Union members and their families have fought to bring us weekends, overtime pay, and safe working conditions. Unions have also earned security by negotiating better health & welfare, pensions, and helping to end child labor. Other wins include holidays with our family, 8-hour workday, and equal pay.
It is important to be part of something that has helped many blue-collar people and to know that you are contributing to bettering peoples’ lives. This gives us purpose beyond the daily grind. However, we must be vigilant lest we allow greedy corporations to erode our achievements. The American worker is still overworked and underpaid. The gains from past generations that are written into law can be taken away. Labor laws that protect us can be changed or upended. We must constantly be on the lookout for inventive ways that companies, policy makers, and politicians seek to undermine our collective power.
We are still endeavoring to reduce the hours of daily labor and raise the standard of living for all workers. Scope creep takes away many weekends when we could be enjoying our lives with our families instead. Inflation has eaten away at our earning power. New safety concerns are on the rise during and post pandemic. Old safety hazards are still prevalent. We earn our living in one of the most dangerous industries in the only state that doesn’t require workers compensation insurance.
Thankfully, over the years, we negotiated a Collective Bargaining Agreement that covers some of these issues.
Our contractors must carry workers compensation insurance. A regular work week of 5 consecutive 8-hour days is defined in our CBA. Also, the normal work week is Monday through Friday. So, we get weekends off. We have provisions for safety including PPE. We have an annuity plan. We have a health & welfare plan. We just need to make sure we enforce the benefits and protections that are already negotiated in the CBA.
We also need to continue to add new benefits and protections by building upon the work of generations before. You carry a yellow dues receipt. That act alone means you are part of something bigger than yourself. You are contributing to the rich history of our Labor Movement. Keep up the good fight! Thank you.
You can learn more about our CBA and the process of contract negotiations by signing up for Collective Bargaining Training. You can learn more about protecting our legal rights in the workplace by signing up for Steward Training. Negotiation and Steward training is scheduled for the 1st week of December. Please watch you emails for more information. You can also email me [email protected] to get on the waiting list. And as always, please talk with me if you want to become more active in your Union and be a force of positive change.
In Solidarity, Kasey Lansangan, Card No. 7865835
