Prop 2 Insider

October 5, 2012

GIVE 2 FOR 2
The campaign to protect collective bargaining rights will be won or lost depending on the number of Michigan voters who have had a one-on-one contact with someone who tells them about the benefits of collective bargaining and asks them to vote YES on Prop. 2. Despite the three month campaign that gathered almost 700,00 signatures on petitions, despite the hundreds of thousands of postcards and letters that are sent, despite the millions spent on radio and television ads , some voters still dont know about Prop 2. And if they do not find out about Prop. 2, they are more likely to vote no. So it is clear that our task is to talk with as many voters as possible between now and Nov. 6. Our candidate in this election is collective bargaining, and we need to make sure Michigan voters know how collective bargaining benefits each and everyone of them and their families. Voters in Ohio successfully repealed their law that attacked collective bargaining rights by knocking on over 1 million doors in the week before the election last November. We can do the same, and it is going to take each and everyone of us to make these contacts. Were asking MEA members to Give two hours for Prop. 2 over the last 30 days of the campaignGive 2 for 2 . The last three weekends in October are MEA Days of ActionOctober 13-14, 20-21, 27-28. We need to turn out and knock on doors, make telephone calls and write letters to our friends, neighbors and families and let them know the importance of voting YES on Prop. 2. And we need to go out and talk with the public individually and face to face. This is not easy for many of us, although the actual activity is a lot easier than the idea of doing it. (See the attached letter.) But it must be done. Spend two hours on a Saturday or Sunday during the next three weeks. Talk with your UniServ Director how you and your co-workers can make a difference. Give 2 for 2!

WHO IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING?

Collective bargaining keeps us safe and gives workers a voice to negotiate for fair wages, benefits and pensions. Collective bargaining levels the playing field for all workers. Corporate CEOs are making millions in salary and bonuses, yet the people who actually do the work have seen their wages and benefits cut. Collective bargaining provides protection from corporations that arbitrarily cut wages, benefits, and pensions, and ship jobs overseas, just to squeeze out more profits. Collective bargaining provides protection from Lansing politicians who are rolling back current laws that protect wages, hours, and safe working conditions. Collective bargaining gives firefighters, police officers, and nurses a voice to ensure there is adequate staffing to keep our communities safe. Firefighters and police officers are able to negotiate for training and the life-saving equipment they need to protect us. Collective bargaining improves education when teachers have a voice to negotiate on behalf of students and are protected from arbitrary behavior by Lansing politicians. Teachers are able to keep class sizes small and improve achievements by providing more personal attention to students. Collective bargaining ensures that teachers receive training and instruction materials that help children learn while keeping them safe in the classroom. Collective bargaining helped save Michigans auto industry because employers and employees negotiated to lower costs for manufacturers, while also ensuring that Michigan factories stayed open and jobs were brought back from overseas. Vote YES on Prop. 2 to protect collective bargaining! 31 days