2008 Alabama State CAP Essay Winners
By UAW Region 8 Webmaster John Davis

The winners in the 2008 Alabama State CAP Essay contest were recently announced. The following students were chosen from a field of twenty one applicants.

First Place – Sean Connolly – Florence High School – will attend Loyola
Second Place – Courtney Champion – Albertville High School – will attend Auburn
Third Place- Joseph Baker – Athens Bible School- will attend Calhoun Community College
Fourth Place – Sterlin Pendergrass – Crossville High School – will attend Gadsden State

"What Do Elections Mean to-Organized Labor in Alabama"
By Joseph Baker

Elections mean everything to organized labor in our state. I learned this at an early age from my grandfather who was a member of Local 12 United Rubber Workers as a thirty year employee of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Gadsden, Alabama. My grandfather taught me that the only way working men and women can compete on a level playing field with big corporations is to stick together and turn out in large numbers at the ballot box. What working men and women lacked in money, they made up for in numbers.

Even though workers' rights and organized labor have meant so much to those who have benefited from their efforts, I feel that my generation does not fully appreciate the commitment and effort made by my grandfather's generation. This has been the primary motive behind my desire to become a lawyer. This will give me the professional credentials I need to advocate through the legal system and political process for workers' rights and to ensure that a fair day's wage for a fair day's work is a standard that is always met. As my daddy always told me, the purpose of having influence is to help those without influence.

While members of organized labor do have influence, many members need individual help at times. Nothing will be more important than organizing and participating with one voice in the political process to ensure that working men and women have a seat at the table when office holders are making decisions that affect their lives.

"What do Elections Mean to Organized Labor in Alabama"
by Sean Connolly

Elections have always been an integral part of the success of labor unions in Alabama and continue to be paramount to the success of labor unions in Alabama today.

Elected officials hold the power to allow labor unions to succeed in the state. Organized labor relies on a government that understands the importance of the labor movement and will help unions to organize and work for better working conditions, safety and fair wages. The election of labor friendly candidates improves the quality of life for all Alabamians, because when unions thrive, everyone in Alabama benefits.

Elections hold the key to organized labor's success in Alabama. With supportive elected officials, the labor unions in Alabama can work to provide critical support to the working men and women of our state by advocating for fair wages, equitable benefits and by ensuring the safety of each worker. Labor unions can lobby for laws that mandate that big business treat retired workers fairly by paying their pensions and assisting with their healthcare costs. Unions can lobby for increased safety regulations at work sites and are far more likely to see this translate into a safer workforce if officials who are compassionate to workers' needs have been elected. Labor unions are able to be far more effective when the government is willing to work with them.

Everyone who has an interest in organized labor's success should actively participate in the election process, because it is through these elections that their voices can be amplified in Montgomery and throughout the state of Alabama. Labor unions rely on elections to ensure that the issues of the working people in Alabama are heard loud and clear over the political interests of big business. When the elections are over, the forces for labor in this state are either faced with a cooperative government that realizes the importance of putting the interests of the worker first, or with a government that considers the plight of the working class secondary to other issues. Elections are crucial to the success of labor unions.

Union workers and those who care about labor issues can make their concerns known by voting for candidates who run on a union platform.

Elected officials and labor unions must work together closely; therefore it is of extreme importance to labor unions that union friendly candidates get elected.