I’m proud that Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin President and Madison Local 311 member Mahlon Mitchell won his historic primary election on May 8. This is the first recall of a lieutenant governor in the history of our nation, and on June 5 Mahlon Mitchell will face an incumbent who has been in lock-step with Governor Scott Walker in his efforts to destroy the rights of workers in Wisconsin.

The outcome of races for governor, lieutenant governor and for seats in your state and provincial legislatures has a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of our members. Those races have a direct effect on the ability of this union’s leaders to protect our members’ pay, pensions, benefits and rights in the workplace. And they have a direct impact on their ability to preserve their jobs. On the federal level, it is crucial that we maintain a friendly majority in the U.S. Senate and return the U.S. House of Representatives to the control of a friendly leadership.

When we gather together in Philadelphia for our 51st Convention, we will address our endorsement in the race for the White House – where the records of the candidates are very clear when it comes to who is with us and who is against us. Sitting on the sidelines and letting others dictate the outcome of those races isn’t a winning strategy. It is nothing less than a recipe for political disaster.

There have been a number of elections across Canada over the past few months. Control of the White House, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, nine governors’ mansion and seats in so many state legislatures across the nation are up for grabs in this year’s election in the United States. The anti-worker legislation introduced in so many state and provincial legislatures over the past two years isn’t a coincidence. It happened because extremist groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) operated unchecked, writing and handing off bills to anti-worker politicians willing to push its agenda.

Elections are our opportunity to rebuild the firewall that has crumbled in so many places by getting more of our friends elected. You’ve all heard me say it – every decision that affects your job and the jobs of our members is made by an elected or appointed official at some level of government. That’s why all elections are important.

By electing our friends – and in some cases by electing our own – we can level the playing field again. One race at a time.

 
Harold A. Schaitberger
General President