I thought I would never be the age of my father, but I am gaining on him everyday. I am facing the stage of my life where my retirement security is a question without an answer of certainty...........
The last four weeks have been a turn of events that have placed the importance of the quality of life for 240 striking Brothers and Sisters before the needs of my family, my friends and myself. Do I know the names of the each 240 striking members, no......... but I see determination and commitment of preserving what their labors have worked for one to over 30 years in their faces.
The oath to my Union is an obligation that is embedded within every process of my daily events. My Union comes first, this is without question. My belief of Unity and Solidarity is not strictly of emotion, but of action. Collectively as members of Organized Skilled Labor, we stand side by side to battle the corporate giants that use the resources of a weaken ecomony and weaken labor laws to gain strength to destory our security.
To witness first hand the attempt of a corporate giant to exit the Brothers and Sisters of the Local away from their earned retirement benefits without consideration is apalling. Of course the company spins their beliefs via hyped half truths and half thought out ideas of the public relations gurus and lawyers, the truth still remains the truth.
These Brothers and Sisters will lose a great portion of their retirement security based on the greed of the employer that they have labored for. This employer wishes to exhaust a life time of achivements, a dream of tomorrows future with a plan that will offer a black hole without a obtainable goal for many. The reality is we live for today, hoping we can get thru tomorrow with todays earnings. Saving for our future is not reachable thru a commitment of investments for many because our investment is attempting to make ends meet to provide the basics in our everyday life.
This battle is a battle that we as Organized Skilled Labor need to fight standing together, not alone. These 240 striking Brothers and Sisters realize the day of the future is nearing, and tomorrow the battle continues.