December 11, 1006
Dear Fellow Democrats,
As we head into this holiday season we have much to be thankful for and a great two years ahead of us, filled with the potential to make an even bigger difference for our state and nation in the elections to come. However, even as we celebrate our victories there are others who continue to fight for basic individual rights and who will enter the New Year in a more precarious place.
The 1,600 workers of Raytheon in Tucson are on strike against the company over its failure to properly address employee medical costs. They are also fighting the company's insistence that all future workers be excluded from the current pension plan, despite the fact that the pension plan is heavily over-funded. Even as the company reported a 41% increase in earnings per share, the workers upon whose labor that success was built will be entering the holiday season living on food stamps and the small stipend which the strike fund can afford.
As Democrats, we have fought hard for healthcare and to protect people's ability to retire with a measure of security and dignity. That was at the heart of the dispute when we supported the miners that were affected by the ASARCO strike in Hayden and Winkelman last year. Now we have an opportunity and a calling to support this community of workers in Tucson and to help to make this a joyous holiday season for them and their families.
For that reason, the Democratic Party and the Young Democrats of Arizona are organizing a food and toy drive to show our support. We will be collecting nonperishable foods, filled holiday baskets, unwrapped gifts for children, teenagers and adults, plus school supplies and toiletries.
Please drop off your items between Dec. 12-19 to:
Arizona Democratic Headquarters @ 2910 N. Central Ave. Phoenix (M-F between 9:00am and 5:00pm)
Pima County Democratic Headquarters @ 4639 E. 1st Street, Tucson (M-F between 9:00am and 5:00pm)
Cochise County Democratic Headquarters @ 1010 E. Fry Blvd. Sierra Vista (drop off on Thursday Dec. 14 from 3pm-5pm, and Friday Dec. 15 9:00am-12n)
Coconino County Democratic Headquarters @ 5840 E. Waki Road, Flagstaff (M-F between 10:00am and 2:00pm)
Yavapai Democratic Headquarters @ 508 S. Montezuma St. Prescott, AZ (M-F between 11:00am and 3:00pm)
I wish you all the best for the holidays and the New Year and look forward to working with you to bring some happiness and support to the workers and families of the International Association of Machinists, Local 933.
AZStar update on the strike here. (12/9)
My message is simple folks:
Give what you can, and do it enthusiastically.
1 comment:
Thanks for the post.
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