There are two words in the English vocabulary that are rarely used. It’s a phrase we don’t say very often and take it for granted.  The phrase is “thank you”.

So to all my brother and sisters who walked the line for me and built this union the way it is today, I say “thank you” for everything you have done. 

Now I call upon my young brothers and sisters to answer the call and stand up for this union.  The labor movement across this country is fading fast.  It’s up to us now to put life back into it.  I have been involved with the union since day one.  For fifteen years I have been jumping at opportunities to help out in any way I could.  The only problem was it was the same group of us helping out.  For to long the young membership has sat back and reaped the benefits of this local.

We are facing some tough times ahead.  Do not rely on just me and our group to pull us ahead.  We need your help.  Together we can bring the comradery back and be close as we were before.  Though we faded apart it is not too late.  As the Futures representative on the Greater Boston Labor Council for Local 2222 I strongly urge you to get involved, come to the union, futures, and cope meetings to see how you can help out. 

Let’s not let down our brothers and sisters before us, let’s make them proud

Fraternally Yours,

The Whirlpool Corp. plans to start closing its refrigerator plant in Evansville, Ind., on March 26.  The refrigerators now manufactured at this plant will be produced in Mexico, eliminating 1,100 local jobs. Meanwhile, Whirlpool--the world's largest home appliance maker--enjoys healthy profits and has received a $19 million economic matching grant that should be creating jobs here in America.  This is outrageous and unacceptable, especially in light of Whirlpool’s profitability and the $19 million dollars in economic recovery money Whirlpool recently received from the federal government as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Those are OUR economic recovery funds, not Mexico’s.

To protest Whirlpool’s decisions and demand good jobs in America, I’m heading to Evansville next Friday to rally and march with local workers and labor leaders—and I’d like you to join me.  No, I’m not asking you to join me in person, but I would like you to sign a petition in solidarity with the Evansville workers for me to deliver to Whirlpool’s management.  Too many people have lost their jobs.  Too many jobs have been sent overseas. Enough is enough.  Whirlpool’s management can’t take our money, shut down our factories and lay off our workers.  It’s not acceptable—and together we’re going to deliver a loud and clear message to Whirlpool: Keep It Made in America and Save Our Jobs.

To sign the petition please go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/evansville

IBEW Local 2222 members kick-off double pole safety campaign in Arlington

Local 2222 members and Arlington residents gathered at the Fox Branch Public Library with several community activists to talk about how hundreds of double poles in town could cause safety problems and are a visual blight on the community. Pictured from left to right are: George Laith, John Kerr, John Janetti, John Melly, Diane Mahon, Rich Taddeo, John Healy, Bob Tiezzi, Pete Gentile. The group made plans to mobilize citizens in Arlington to fix double pole problems.

Support our Brothers & Sisters at Stop & Shop

Thousands of grocery workers throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut - members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local Unions 1445, 328, 371, 1459, and 919 - are bargaining with their employer, Stop & Shop, for a fair contract.  The current contract expires Feb. 20.  But Stop & Shop is taking an adversarial and confrontational position by placing advertisements in local papers, announcing the company is hiring temporary replacement workers.

This tactic is unnecessary and unproductive. Stop & Shop should focus its energy into negotiating a good contract with the local workers it already has -- the same workers who have made Stop & Shop the number one supermarket in the areas in which it operates. Those workers and their communities deserve the company's loyalty in return, not scare tactics that needlessly frighten workers and customers. Stop & Shop can and should do better by its workers and customers.

That is why we are asking everyone to print out the attached coupon and hand it to a Store Manager with your reciept at the end of your next shopping trip.  We need to let Stop & Shop know that they will lose our business if they push workers out on strike and hire replacement workers, and they need to see how much business they will lose.  Solidarity matters!