|
Because the strength
of the construction
worker is
not in their
back…
…but in their VOTE!
Welcome to the home
of the free
Laborvote.com!
|
'Yes
on Prop 99' Urgently Needs Local Union Support
But Prop 98 Must Be Defeated
Resolution Adopted by Delegates to 60th Convention
Delegates to the 60th Convention of the State Building & Construction
Trades Council last week unanimously adopted a resolution that recognizes the
urgency of craft and trade unions supporting Proposition 99, the real eminent
domain reform measure on the June 3 Primary Election ballot.
Proposition 99 will put a provision in the California Constitution that will
protect homeowners by prohibiting government from using eminent domain to
take a home to transfer to a private developer. Prop. 99 is supported by a
broad coalition of homeowners, labor, business, cities, counties and
environmentalists.
Prop. 98, a deceptive measure bankrolled by wealthy apartment and mobile home
park owners for their own financial gain, is also on the June ballot. They
want voters to believe that Prop. 98 is about eminent domain. But Prop. 98
will also eliminate rent control in California so they can make hundreds of
millions of dollars by raising rents on working families and seniors.
The resolution adopted by the SBCTC convention delegates also says that
"Proposition 98 must be defeated to protect public works infrastructure
projects in our state while standing up for renters and the
environment." Equally disturbing, there are drafting errors in Prop. 98
that would be locked into the State Constitution and which could prohibit the
acquisition of land and water through eminent domain to develop public water
projects. This could derail many future water projects intended to preserve
clean drinking water, protect existing water resources, and secure additional
water supply. This would also take many construction jobs off the table.
It is urgent that local building trades unions sign up to endorse Proposition
99 and follow up by contributing to the No 98/Yes 99 Campaign. To sign up
your local union as an endorser, go to www.no98yes99.com on the Internet,
click on Get Involved, and then on Join the Coalition On-Line where there is
a sign-up form.
To contribute directly to the No on 98/Yes on 99 campaign, click on Get
Involved, then on Make a Contribution, where there is a contribution form.
Your local union may also make a contribution to the No on 98/Yes on 99
campaign by sending a check to: Members' Voice of the State Building Trades,
PAC # 980162, and specify the purpose of your contribution.
Please advise the SBCTC of all contributions you make directly to the
campaign.
Neil Struthers Chief Executive
Officer
Santa Clara & San Benito
Building Trades Council
“Your Vote is your Voice”
Hello;
My name is Neil Struthers and I am the Chief Executive Officer of
the Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction
Trades Council.
The Council represents approximately 35,000 union construction workers and
on behalf of all of them I want to welcome you to our site.
In this site you will find educational material and messages of public
officials on the many issues that affect working families.
It is my hope that you find this site …www.LaborVote.org useful and you
visit us again.
As I said in the beginning of this message, “Your Vote is your Voice”
and I also think that your voice not only should be heard but should be
loud as well.
That’s why we have put together this material in which you will find the
proper tools to express yourself in the different political levels of the
United States system, at the federal, state and most importantly the local
level.
“Freedom
is not Free” and we must make sure that the brothers and sisters that
paid the ultimate price for it are not taken for granted. “The right to vote
is not a privilege…it is a responsibility”…Vote Loud…Vote Proud…Vote!
Ask
people to describe themselves and one of the first things most people say
is their occupation. Physiologists will argue that your occupation is what
you do not who you are. Truth is all of us are much more that just
workers.
We are
complex people with different beliefs and interests. We have different
family situations, different religions, and different personal and
community interests. All of these influence our decision making, including
when we vote this November.
This
site was created to give you the opportunity to educate yourself on where
each of the candidates stands on issues. We hope that you do that. While
you are asking candidates about issues of importance to you include
questions about workers issues. Ask about Prevailing wage, overtime pay,
replacement workers, worker safety, right to collectively bargain,
and any other issue related to your ability to maintain and improve your
current standard of living.
I think
the reason most of us include our occupation when we describe ourselves is
that we understand that our ability to achieve and maintain a good standard
of living is fundamental in our ability to support our beliefs to our
family and in our community. Every decision you make on election day has
the potential to effect your ability to maintain and improve your current
standard of living, make sure you understand how before casting your vote.
|
|
|
Election Day
June 3, 2008
|
|
|
|
gloria@atwork.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
