ATU Action Weekly Update - 7/9/07

There will be no ATU Action Weekly Update on July 16, 2007.  ATU Action Weekly Update will return on July 23, 2007.

Check Out Union Voter Guide for the 2008 Elections

The Presidential election may be over a year away, but the primaries are fast approaching.  It's never too early to educate yourself about the candidates and their positions on issues that matter most to working families.

Check out the AFL-CIO's Working Families Vote 2008 online forum for up-to-date information about all of the Presidential candidates.  View videos of the candidates at working famillies forums across the country.  Get the most recent polls.  Read what the pundits are saying about the candidates.  Find out where the candidates stand on the freedom to organize, health care, retirement security, education, trade, and other issues.  Voice your opinion about some of the more pressing issues in this election.

The Working Familes Vote 2008 online forum is your opportunity to get involved NOW in selecting the next President of the United States.  Check it out at http://www.workingfamiliesvote2008.com.

 

Join the Discussion on Trade and the Global Economy

Trade policy affects all of us - even transit workers.  In addition to the affect it may have on our loved ones, bad trade policy can also lead to cuts in transit service.  After all, if workers in our communities lose their jobs to outsourcing or plant closures, that means fewer riders on our buses and trains.

The AFL-CIO wants to hear from you about what you think the next president should do to make the global economy work for working familes here and abroad.  Click here to give your opinion and see what others have to say about this issue. 

 

Sign the Petition for Quality, Affordable Health Care

Michael Moore's new documentary, "Sicko," spotlights the problems with our country's broken health care industry -- the millions who don’t have health insurance, those who suffer because the insurance they do have will not pay for prescriptions or procedures they need, and the swiftly rising cost of health insurance. 

Insurance companies maximize profits by doing their best not to provide benefits to the hundreds of millions of Americans with coverage.

Our nation's hospitals have too few nurses caring for too many patients, leading to thousands of preventable deaths and injuries.

Working families are paying more for their coverage in co-payments, deductibles and premiums, yet they are getting less in benefits.
 
Enough is enough.  We need change.  We need action.  We need a real national health care policy -- because no one who works hard and plays by the rules should go without good, affordable health care coverage.

Please show your support for comprehensive health care reform by signing the petition for quality, affordable health care at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/healthcarepetition.

 

Got Talent?  Sign-Up for ATU Idol

The surprise hit of the ATU International Convention in 2004 was the ATU Idol talent competition.  ATU Idol will be returning to the convention again this year, and it promises to be even better. 

Convention delegates and registered member guests are eligible to compete.  Delegates will be given priority.  

Contestants bring their best vocal renditions of rock and pop hits, as well as selections from a wide range of American standards. Accompaniment is chosen by contestants from a HUGE list of Karaoke backup CDs provided by the competition.

A panel of non-ATU entertainment professionals will judge the performances – just like the hit TV show.  There may be a "Simon" in the group, but that’s all a part of the fun.

Prizes will be awarded to the top performers, but the real winner will be the ATU MS Research Fund – the recipient of all show proceeds. 

If you are a convention delegate or plan to register for the convention as a guest, have a good voice and love to perform, you’ll have a great time and support the search for a cure for MS as well.

Don’t delay.  Performance slots are limited.

You can download an application and the song list from the ATU website at http://www.atu.org.  Just click on the ATU Idol link.