It is no time to sit on the sidelines as we face one of the most consequential Midterm elections in living memory.
If ever there were a time to stand up for our families and our communities, this is it. It is less than two years since we went all out to help secure victory for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris – at the height of the pandemic.
But ever since then, the forces ranging against working people have been vigorously plotting to seize power back for themselves.
Right-wing Republicans are using played out tactics and trying to make us point fingers in the wrong direction while we’re all struggling.
For months now, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been sending busses filled with recently-arrived migrants crossing into his state from Mexico to Washington D.C. and New York City.
Fellow Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida – which of course doesn’t even share a border with Mexico – chartered busses for migrants to travel to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
All this political point-scoring is intended to turn voters in more liberal states against migrants — most of whom have little choice but to flee violence and extreme poverty in their countries of origin.
Here in the U.S. we are seeing our grocery bills going up, while at the same time the biggest corporations are recording record profits.
So much is at stake. Women’s right to make their own medical decisions – in every state – could be taken away.
If extremist Republicans to take back the House and Senate, there is a real risk abortion bans could be extended throughout the country. Politicians, instead of women and their healthcare providers, would be in control of some of the most wrenching and difficult situations that families can face.
Our children’s future is also on the ballot. Without a Democratic victory there is little chance of legislation to slow the ongoing assaults on our planet -- which are already creating chaos within our climate.
At 1199, we are not simply members of a union. We are part of a movement.
A movement to fight back against challenges facing working people and making sure we get our fair share of
the pie. Being in a movement, though, requires sacrifices.
It means taking an active part in the political process. It means taking up some of our precious free time we would like to spend with our families, to make sure our fellow members understand the issues and go out to vote on election day. Those few hours we spend canvassing now away from our families will be worth many more good years to come, as we work to protect our future.
We know there is too much power in the hands of corporations, billionaires, and politicians who have rigged the system against working families. But taking back our power requires hard work.
One thing is for sure — by showing up as voters we have the power to get the care, respect and quality jobs that everyone of us deserves. There’s never been a better time to get ourselves and our families and friends to the polls.
