Departments

NC/SC Civil-Human Rights Council Meeting
Jeff Hicks/ LUPA 3520

The NC/SC Council met again and this time at Local 3520’s Union Hall on the 18th of Oct.

The subject was the 2008 Elections and the disappearing act of the middle class. President Ricky McDowell opened the meeting as usual with a meet and greets, and then got down to business. President McDowell said” We need to be fully committed to placing Barack Obama into office, if we want to survive as a union.” He also spoke on the Smith field Campaign, and then showed two videos. The videos were What is wrong with America and Lets Turn America Around. Both videos pinpointed the Presidential candidates’ views on the Working Class.

Guest Speaker; at this meeting, was David Parker. David is a Super Delegate for the Democratic Party of Iredell County. David is an attorney, representing workers against companies and Worker’s Comp Law. David is an advocate for labor and the working man. David spoke on encounters with a lot of Candidates, especially the ones that are out for the working man’s well being. David explained to the counsel his views of Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. He boiled it down that Barack is his choice and should be the working man’s choice. David also stated, he knows that skin color has come into play with people’s decision. He reminded the Council, employee free choice act, high gas prices, jobs going overseas, no money for bills, no secure future for you kids, and disappearing pensions and 401ks, don’t recognize COLOR! David also stated, it’s not just the President, remember all the others on the ballot and choose the ones that are for Labor and the working man.

Local 5285’s President Bob Riggins helped sum things up, by giving a Report of the disappearing of jobs in NC, as he has seen it since 1979. Things hit home when he broke it down to today’s date and the number of Union Employees in NC, which has lost their jobs to overseas competition.

The meeting was highlighted with its normal attraction, the FOOD. Local 3520 put on a spread that made the council members throw in the towel. Local 3520 took the title of Best Meal Served from Local 2404. Before adjournment Ricky presented Gene Hollaman with a plaque for Dedication to the Civil Rights movement.