With all eyes focused on the sagging economy and the November 4th Presidential Election, Massachusetts voters voted 70% to defeat the ballot initiative that would have eliminated the state personal income tax taking 12.7 billion-nearly 40%- out of the state budget, driving up local property taxes and leading to drastic cuts in services. 

This past Thursday, July 24, 2008, roughly 150 Department of Public Works for the city of Springfield, Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly to merge their association with UFCW Local 1459.  Covering all non-supervisory positions, our newest members collect trash, recycling, yard waste, bulk pickup, fix roads, storm drains, catch basins, sweep city streets, maintain city parks, plant and maintain trees and flowers, amongst other duties.

On Friday, August 22, 2008, Palmer school bus drivers employed by First Student ratified their very first contract with a unanimous vote.  Although these drivers had formed an independent association several years ago, they found that belonging to a large union offered much more bargaining table strength and resources than they could muster by themselves.   UFCW Local 1459 Secretary-Treasurer Dan Clifford, working with stewards Lisa Arnold and Tracey Povosky, negotiated a fine first contract, with wage and benefit increases along with many working condition protections.

On Tuesday June 3rd at Holyoke High School, the Holyoke Cafeteria Association voted overwhelming to merge with UFCW Local 1459.

The lengths to which some conservatives go in trying to portray this nation's labor movement as special pleaders on behalf of unwarranted benefits for unworthy workers is truly remarkable. The fact is that the root cause of the current economic crisis is the stagnation in wages that has occurred in this country over the past eight years and the unwillingness of employers to share the benefits of worker productivity growth. To prop up consumer demand in the face of stagnant wages, the Bush administration and the Federal Reserve opened the floodgates for cheap credit, only delaying the day of reckoning and making the economic shock far more severe when it did occur.

Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4th, 2008 in Chicago. Thank you, UFCW Local 1459 members.

Throughout this historic campaign season, the economy has without a doubt been the most dominant issue on the minds of American voters. Once the turbulent markets have subsided, we must continue to support policies that will return purchasing power to those hit hardest by our current crisis: America's middle class workers.

Visit http://www.VoteForChange.com to find your polling place today.