RIGHT TO WORK SAFELY

Union members and workers everywhere are bombarded by information from right-wing groups and political candidates attempting to create reasons why working people would not want to join a union.
In response, there is some reasonable information available that should convince us all why it is a good idea to organize.
Let’s take a look at health and safety. Michigan, for example, is a highly organized state, compared to most, with just over sixteen percent of the workforce organized. Looking at Health and Safety Injury and Fatality Reports from 2006, the most recent provided by the AFL-CIO. Michigan workers are obviously safer than workers in Right-to-Work States. If you compare Michigan’s 2006 Fatalities and Serious Injuries per 100,000 workers (2.3) to Tennessee (5.0) you can see you are far safer working in Michigan and Michigan has many more industrial jobs than Tennessee. When compared to Texas (4.6) Michigan is still on top. What about Mississippi (8.9) and Alabama (6.1)? I can’t imagine a union friendly state putting up with 486 fatalities in one year, that’s what Texas had in 2006. Without unions to train and practice good health and safety techniques, workers are on their own in a virtual killing field.
These fatality and injury statistics are outrageous and would never fly in Michigan or other “union friendly” states but other locations use their “low cost of doing business“ as an incentive to lure prospective employers, but at what risk to their workers?
Being in a union keeps you safer than working in a non-union or right-to-work shop. In fact, as good as we are in Michigan, concerning health and safety, our serious injuries per one thousand workers has dropped every year since 2002.
We have listened to a lot of political rhetoric lately but most candidates choose not to talk about unions or how important they are. The truth is, unions save lives through health and safety education and awareness.

MARK BOUCHER AT WHITE SHIRT DAY 2010

WHITE SHIRT DAY

On February 11, 1937 a handful of dedicated union people in Flint, Michigan held out and won recognition from one of the world’s largest corporations. Many of them had lost their homes and most of their families were destitute in the middle of a Michigan Winter.
On Thursday, February 11, 2010 stop for a moment to recognize the efforts and perseverance of this brave lot. In many ways, they paved the way for s strong middle class and opportunities that, before their time, people could only dream about.
Today, unions are more important than ever and are a vital partner in the push to re-manufacture America. Americans pretty much want the same things today that they did in 1937; dignity in the work place, a good paying job with health care benefits and enough to help their children reach their own dreams through education. America's unions not only make the work place safe and productive but are involved in the community making sure there are opportunities for employment and help for those less fortunate. If you have the opportunity, say Union Yes!

PUTTING THE BRAKES ON TOYOTA

And so, Toyota is finally getting the bad press it deserves for being slow to fix an incredibly dangerous problem. Make no mistake, this is not a squeaky brake caliper or some faint wind noise. In August of 2009 an off-duty policeman and his entire family perished when their Lexus ES 350 careened down the freeway near San Diego, out of control and unable to stop or slow down. To hear the 911 call go to (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7017760)

Toyota blamed the incident on a sticky floor mat but recently announced the recall of 4.2 Million vehicles or over 2 years worth of American production to accelerator pedals that stick wide open or are slow to return. For their next trick they will attempt to stem the anti-Toyota public relations tide. Records show that Toyota has known about, and down-played, this problem for more than two years, blaming the car’s mats and or driver error for the mishaps. Federal regulators have opened a full investigation into this issue. Before this is over, someone could be led away from Toyota headquarters in hand cuffs.
I expect in the days ahead you will see plenty of commercials explaining the Toyota position and clips of what an “American” company they are and how concerned they are for their customers blah blah blah. Let’s face it. If they were truly concerned, the first moment that they expected something wrong with the accelerator, or it’s systems, in any way shape or form, they would have acted swiftly and with purpose to protect the consumer. It’s the gas pedal, not a faulty light bulb. You can’t just let an accelerator pedal problem fester for two years. Who knows how many accidents have been caused by run-away Toyotas that we aren’t even aware of. Last October a 70 year old man in the San Francisco Bay area told investigators that his 2007 Toyota Camry simply “took off” on its own when he rammed into a Honda Accord at 100 plus miles per hour, killing the Honda’s driver in a burst of flames. No one quite believed his story at the time. The California Highway Patrol and Toyota lined up to put the blame on the driver and he was subsequently arrested and sued.
The government has received reports of over 100 related incidents including: seventeen crashes and five fatalities involving Toyota vehicles with this problem.
Consumer Reports needs to recall their magazines that tout the safety and quality of Toyota’s vehicles. Sports stadiums and advertisers need to reject Toyota’s sponsorships until they do the right thing by fixing this issue and making it right for everyone impacted by this heinous flaw.
Welcome to America Toyota. Your honeymoon is officially over.