Union Label Conference
February 20-22, 2004
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Union Label Conference On February 20-22, 2004 the Michigan State AFL-CIO held its 14th Annual Union Label and Services Trades Council Seminar in Romulus, Michigan. The basis of the Union Label Committee is to emphasize the importance of supporting those goods produced in Union Shops, by Union Members, (under the Union won conditions). This committee also helps bring to the attention of our members those products that are produced under non-union conditions and by anti-labor manufacturers. These include crafts people, artists, or independent produce sellers who have a reputation for treating workers unfairly. In an age where corporate shopping outlets are forcing many independent businesses into bankruptcy, conscientious consumers can make a decision to bypass the shopping malls and buy from local producers, who have a worker friendly atmosphere. This in turn aids the local economy and rewards those producers for their worker friendly practices. A perfect example of this is Wal-Mart, who is looking to build a store in Greenville, Michigan. It will not only capture most of the vicinities retailing, but also a bulk of the profit. The Local economies will suffer, while union stores like Meijers will feel the impact. A quick fact about Wal-Mart: More than 80% of the 6000 factories of Wal-Mart’s worldwide database of suppliers are in China. Wal-Mart estimated it spent $15 billion on Chinese made products last year, accounting for nearly 1/8 of all Chinese exports into the United States. American workers are losing jobs every day to outsourcing, subcontracting, NAFTA, Mexico, China, Slave Labor……It’s a reality. |
We are Union Brothers and Sisters who must act now. Just ask the state workers of UAW Local 6000, who are working 40 hours per week and getting paid for 38. Another example is the Lear Corporation, where employees are being asked by Lear to take huge cuts in wages and benefits, or lose their jobs. This is occurring when the corporation is making record profits. We must stop the bleeding of Corporate America and the loss of Union jobs. In closing, we would like to thank the UAW Local 730 membership for letting us attend this conference. The networking with other Union Label Representatives from various sites and different unions gave our Union Label Committee a better understanding of what we need to do today, as well as, tomorrow. We would like to demonstrate our unity with our Union Labor Brothers and Sisters by observing a simple principle, the Union Label Golden Rule: Buy Union products and services, as you would have Union wages and benefits paid unto you! United we stand. Divided we fall. Gilbert J. Arambula
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