I spent part of yesterday morning in the gallery of the Montana State House Chambers. Sitting alongside a collection of friends—all union members or former union members—I watched as the Montana House of Representatives debated and then voted on HB 251, the so-called “Right to Work” Bill.
The legislation died with a
vote of 62 opposed and 38 in favor.
I felt privileged to watch the
proceedings. And I was especially proud
of the hundreds of union members calmly filling the Capitol building to personally
express opposition to the bill.
I am not political. This is not about politics to me. This is about being provided a living wage
and benefits to last a lifetime. My
union did this for me.
I am retired. Every month now, my union retirement programs
(three of them) help replenish my bank account.
It’s good.
A financial adviser recently
analyzed my retirement income sources and told me (thanks largely to my IBEW
retirements) I have remarkable stability in my income. In almost any scenario, I will thrive.
Leaving the Capitol, I was
pleased to see a gathering of union members on the front steps. I captured a photograph of them and then thrust
my fist up in solidarity.
— Mitchell Hegman
While my experience with unions does not coincide with yours, I do recognize that unions built a great part of the economic and cultural underpinnings of the US in the 20th century. It's unfortunate that not all unions have lived up to their initial potential. I think the IBEW, from talking with you, is a shining example to those unions that have failed their members and their communities.
ReplyDeleteNo one can deny bad examples can be found, but the IBEW has been good for me and good to me.
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