PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In 2008, we believed that health care reform would be a mandate for those running for office.  The American people proved this to be true to electing Barack Obama President and by electing a majority of congress members who support health care reform.  We have always known that the entrenched special interests who stand to benefit from maintaining the status quo, such as the insurance lobby, would present fierce opposition to health care reform.  Part of the strategy of the special interests is to try to scare us by promoting lies about the health care reform plan.  The following are eight guarantees that President Obama has made to address any concerns about health care reform:

1. No discrimination for pre-existing conditions.
2. No exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles or co-pays.
3. No cost-sharing for preventative care.
4. No dropping of coverage for seriously ill.
5. No gender discrimination.
6. No annual or lifetime caps on coverage.
7. Extended coverage for young adults.
8. Guaranteed insurance renewal.

In addition to these eight guarantees, working families need real reform that includes a public option to keep insurance companies honest and provide competition in the industry.  A public option would provide stability, efficiency and innovation.  Also, we need to make sure health care reform does not place the burden on hard-working families by taxing their employer-provided health care benefits.

Our health care system is becoming more and more broken.  Employers and employees are paying more for less coverage.  Millions of working families have become uninsured or under-insured while insurance companies' profits have risen 1000%.  Medical costs are the number on reason for bankruptcy.  The special interests have stopped health care reform before with huge returns.  We must not let the special interests defeat us again.

Current reports indicate that we are in the midst of the worst recession since WWII.  This is apparent when you see how many companies are struggling to remain viable in these difficult economic times.  Many people have seen wage freezes, lay-offs and, as in the case of YRC, wage concessions.

However, 2008 did bring some positive trends to our local union with employees of several companies voting to be represented by Local 100.  We would like to welcome our newest members from UPS Freight, UPS CSI, First Student, George Fern and Clermont County Water and Sewer.  Also, employees of Ryder Logistics voted to become members of our local union and that election is currently in the process of being certified by the NLRB.

It can be argued that the years following WWII were the most prosperous era in our country’s history.  At that time, union density was at 35%.  Excluding government jobs, union density is now only approximately 7%.  However, that could all change with the passage of an important piece of legislation coming up before Congress called The Employee Free Choice Act.  This Act would entitle employees to unionize without enduring the long and nasty anti-union campaign which is usually waged by companies that do not want their employees to have the strength of bargaining.  Thankfully, our political landscape has also changed.  President Obama understands the plight of working people and is in support of this legislation.  In addition, many members of his Cabinet as well as members of Congress are behind this legislation.

It is time to once again raise the standard of living for all Americans, not just the elite few.  We at Local 100 are fully committed to this effort and hope that all of our members are supportive as well.  Just as the rising tide lifts all boats, when we help others become stronger, we become stronger ourselves.

Happy New Year to all!