The California State Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 5^th.  Political consultants and pundits are predictably a very high voter turnout.  They point to the passage of national healthcare and the somewhat controversial ballot initiatives as reason for the expected high voter turnout. 

I urge all of you to disregard the political rancor that exists and take the time to study the candidates and the issues and vote via mail-in or at your designated polling place. 

To assist you in your deliberations, we have been busy the last several weeks interviewing candidates and researching the issues in an effort to make ballot recommendations to you, the Members.

Why bother with ballot recommendations and endorsements?  Whenever I get a call, a letter or email from one of you complaining about one or more of our recommendations, I ask myself the same question.  The answer is always the same – it’s our job.  It’s the Union’s job to recommend you vote for candidates and ballot initiatives that will protect you and your family’s quality of life.

All of us know, through past practice and sometimes personal loss, the wages, benefits and working conditions we fight for at the bargaining table can be lost in Washington D.C., Sacramento and the various city halls throughout the State.  The power to sign or veto pro-worker legislation to representatives, to policy making boards and commissions, and to allocate budget resources that affect you and your family’s life in the work place, at home, at school and in your neighborhood, are made by elected officials. 

With regards to political recommendations and endorsements, I’m sure of what the Union’s job is on your behalf.  I’m just as sure what our job is not.  It’s not our job to recommend or endorse based on party affiliation, abortion, guns or any other social cause.  We never will – it’s not our job.  That is not to say that as staff Members of your Union we do not care or do not maintain our own personal feelings for one or more social causes.  We do.  But we will not integrate those personal thoughts and feelings into this newsletter.  It’s not our right and certainly not our job.

I hope that all of you will review and give careful consideration to the recommendations outlined in the election edition of Local 39 News.  As always, please vote.  It’s your right and your duty.