President's Message

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Wages, hours, overtime, vacation and sick pay………for decades they were at the top of the list of every Union workers’ priority list come bargaining time. They are still important issues during contract negotiations, but over the last decade, health benefits have come to dominate the Union’s priority. At a time when Unions have been forced to make concessions on so many fronts, the fiercest battles often center on health care benefits.

Yet both labor and management are often at a loss when it comes to retaining the
health benefits of the past, because as both sides have admitted repeatedly, the spiraling health care costs and overburdened health care system nationwide are too large to be solved by contract talks alone. Another fact of life today is that employers don’t ask, but rather, demand that their employees share the cost of the ever increasing health care insurance. This obviously adversely effects any wage increases negotiated for the term of the agreement. According to our actuary, ninety eight percent of all American Workers, (union and non-union) pay toward their health insurance premiums.

We must however, continue to negotiate and fight vigorously to attain contracts that are fair and acceptable to our members.

Governments on all levels, especially at the national level, must play a role in correcting the problem, and must work with both labor and business to ensure that one of the most critical issues affecting all American Workers will not irreparably ruin workers’ abilities to take care of themselves and their families, as well as damage their output that keeps the world’s largest economy running. We are definitely reaching a health care crisis in our country.

The American working man and woman have seen their benefits reduced, wage increases running behind the actual cost of living, and a health care system that is in the greatest and richest country in the world where reportedly over 47 million Americans are ignored and without health insurance coverage. It’s a disgrace! Health insurance is vital and a must for all Americans.

Finally, we are approaching a very important election year, a year where hard working men and women will have the opportunity to elect those political leaders that will support labor and the interests of the average working man and woman.

During the past six years, the attacks on labor were relentless. This current administration is not supportive or friendly to labor. Corporate lobbyists swayed many political leaders and administrators to create laws and rules that either weakened or diminished organized labor’s influence.

Let me strongly state, that in this coming year 2008, you will have the opportunity and choice, to support and have elected those political leaders that will support organized labor, and your best interests. Please remind your friends, neighbors and relatives to register and to get out on Election Day and Vote!

On Behalf of the Local 813 Executive Board, I would like to wish you and your family a very safe and Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

                                               Fraternally,

                                               Sylvester Needham,
                                               President