When protective bargaining wins, we ALL win
The Protect Our Jobs coalition, also known as Protect Working Families, is working to pass a ballot initiative that would put protections for collective bargaining in the state constitution. This group just released a new television ad that shows how collective bargaining helped save that domestic auto industry in America.
“Rescue”
This plant was on the death list. Now we’re adding shifts, expanding. Our industry’s coming back and fighting for the future. We’re making vehicles better than ever – bringing jobs back to America from Mexico. Paid the government back, ahead of schedule.We have all pulled together, through tough times. Collective bargaining got us here. Management and workers, negotiating.
It’s not just about my job. It’s about this plant, this community. Protect the comeback. Protect collective bargaining. Vote Yes.
Protect Our Jobs describes the ad this way:
Once near-death, the auto industry has risen to record-breaking sales and produce vehicles of exceptional quality. Plants are adding jobs and bringing work back from overseas as employers and managers work together to ensure the future of the auto industry remains bright.The UAW and auto executives worked together to make historic changes in production, pay and benefits. Since 2009, productivity has increased, loans given by the government have been repaid ahead of schedule and profits soared to all-time highs.
Collective bargaining helps everyone because the wages, benefits, working conditions and safety procedures laid out in contracts become industry standards. Working families have more money to spend in local economies, small businesses benefit from the boost in sales and communities are strengthened.
Corporate special interests want to block Michigan’s working families from exercising their right to vote on the proposal, pushing Lansing politicians to pressure the courts to keep the proposal off the ballot.
On Monday, the Michigan Court of Appeals ordered the Board of State Canvassers to place the proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot. The board, which previously deadlocked on placing the proposal on the ballot, followed the court’s order.
My understanding is that the groups fighting this ballot proposal are going to take their fight to the Supreme Court. Some of the very same people that decry the wasting of taxpayer money for things they don’t agree with are hypocritically moving forward with yet another tax-wasting effort of their own. Given their recent record on keeping Michigan citizens from exercising their constitutionally-protected right to put proposals on the ballot, it’s likely to be just another waste of money and shows that they fear how unpopular their positions are.
This ballot proposal has the greatest chance of getting Democrats to the polls of any that will be voted on in November. That’s why it’s being fought with such vigor. When you’re out there knocking on doors, making calls and talking to your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers, make sure they know that the Protect Our Jobs proposal protects ALL Michiganders, not just our union brothers and sisters.
