I'm always amazed by the number of people who blame Unions for complacency, greed, the downturn in the economy and loss of jobs.

I've fought for more than forty-five years for the American Dream - to provide the right to a good job, good education, to be able to own my house and put my sons and daughters through college, and to ensure they had a chance to have a good job and a decent living in their time.

We in the Union Movement have done more to promote and preserve the American Dream than any other faction - be it corporations, fraternal groups and community groups.  We continue to promote political legislation to help all people realize the American Dream and we continue to fight off the attacks by many who would destroy the Union Movement if they could.

What Unions have gained over the years has benefited all with a better Middle-Class Life, even helping corporations and companies become rich with our production and talents.

The Living Wage Standards and Minimum Wage Standards attained through Union Bargaining have made our economy stronger and have sustained us through good times and bad.

Unions have promoted better schools and education, the Social Security System, Child Labor Laws, The Civil Rights Act, Women's Rights in the Workplace, Medicare, Unemployment Insurance and Compensation Laws. 

Many lies have been told about the Union Movement - but these are the truths that should be told.

The message I'm trying to get out to convey to everyone is that we - as Union Leaders - need to spend more time educating our members so they can tell the story of the many successes that Organized Labor has brought to communities across the United States where Union Members live, work and raise their families.

When some admonish us and try to put us down, we need to let them know Organized Labor is alive and well and gives continually of its time, talent and treasures to make our communities a better place to live and work.

It is not Unions that send our jobs overseas or demand outrageous salaries.  We are not the ones who've caused the economic crises that we are facing today.  It's the greed of big business and poor management that has devastated our American Way of Life.

But we now have change in Washington, a new president starting his second year in office, and a change in the face of Congress.  It's our turn now to make America a Nation of People who care for each other and take back our country. 

But this can only be accomplished if we all work together.  Then we may be able to save our country for future generations to come.

Earl Frampton

CWA/AFL-CIO, Retired