Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It has been a very busy and interesting year.  The Chevy Cruze has sold well, which has created lots of overtime.  Many of our active members are still new to our Local and this area.  Others are already on their way back home finding openings closer to their families.  The political scene has been crazy with our new governor threatening to run us over with a bus.  His inability to do the people’s work has forced the voters in Ohio to put three (3) referendums on the ballot.  This fight against workers and their rights will surely continue into 2012.

We have a presidential election in the coming year and I think most folks can see the Republican agenda is to do nothing for working people and blame everything on President Obama.  While I do not agree with all things he does, I do know he is the best choice for the working class.  Let’s face it, he stood up for the autoworkers and even stopped in Lordstown for a visit.  While others opposed federal government support for the American auto industry, President Obama supported us when we needed it the most.  We now need to return the favor and support him because on the other side, Mitt Romney has consistently said that the American autoworkers did not deserve federal support.

We can see the gridlock in D.C. every day.  It is in the papers and on the news.  We, the American people cannot sit on the sidelines and do nothing.  We have a voice and we need to use it.

We do have some real allies in government that have been fighting for us.  Congressman Tim Ryan and Senator Sherrod Brown are two of those champions working in Washington, D.C.  WE are going to need to do all we can in 2012 to make sure we do not lose their voices.  The easiest way to support our allies in the federal government is to join the UAW’s V-CAP Program.  We have the numbers if we all just give a little we can help counter the one per centers and their millions of dollars that will be used to attack those that support the views of labor.

Just look at the occupy movement happening today.  These disgruntled folks are using all they have, their voice, to try and make our country a better place.  We deserve a country where our seniors can retire with dignity, where our children cannot be denied healthcare because of pre-existing conditions, where workers’ wages grow as the companies do.  We cannot be satisfied when the top 1 percent continues to receive 400 to 500 times more compensation than the people who do the work.  We cannot sit on the sidelines while banks continue to sell our mortgages and then bet on them to fail.  As long as there is greed, workers will need to fight for their rights.  Let’s make 2012 a year we all do something to make sure our children and grandchildren have a fighting chance.

Lastly, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.  Have a great new year and I hope all your wishes come true.  A wise person once told me that luck in a combination of two things -- preparation and timing.  We all have the ability to make 2012 our luckiest year yet.  Believe It!

Dave