A Message from Business Manager Chris Erikson
Out east at the Long Island Educational Center during the Critical Thinking seminar, our members have been hearing an audio tape of Harry Van Arsdale Jr. speaking at Cooper Union in 1962 on the “Goals of Labor.” It is quite moving for many who never heard Harry speak in person. He explained that if he had to describe the goals of Labor, he would sum it up as a better life for all working men and women. He said that “having goals and not putting in the effort and the time and resources to reach them, you’d be better off not having any goals at all.” We all have better lives thanks to Harry, Tom Van Arsdale, and their associates, for all they have done for us. We are the fruition of their goals, as we do indeed enjoy better lives because of the Union.
Harry stated that “we have had many successes and some disappointments.” Today, despite the challenges and current disappointments, we are in a pretty good spot. Our members are working, and the outlook for full employment continues to be possible. It’s been a long time coming. Westchester is struggling, though, and we will do all we can to get them to work. We are in the first year of a three-year contract with a $2.00 raise coming in April, plus increases in our Pension, Annuity, and the NEBF. Most importantly, the increase in man hours will help toward stabilizing our medical.
The challenges don’t just go away, though. We need to continue to organize our exploited competition. We need to be politically active, electing moderates who will protect our economic interests. We need to strengthen the Labor Movement and lead by example. We will continue to reach our goals of a better life as long as we “Keep the Union Strong” in order to fight the fight. That sticker on your hard hat is more than a sticker, so don’t wear it unless you mean it and that you are all in. You need to earn it by committing to it, brothers and sisters, and we’ll all be better off. Keep the Union Strong.
