by E B—Colorado
This week I met a rather interesting man who began his career over fifty years ago in a unionized company manufacturing flooring. It was great to hear about unions from his perspective.
When he began working he would contribute twenty five cents a day to his pension which was matched by his employer. By the time he retired the amount was closer to fifty six cents an hour. Because this gentleman worked for a union he was able to support his family on a single paycheck, have access to excellent health insurance and know that he had a retirement plan that would support him in his old age. In short, because he was part of a union he was able to live the American dream.
He was excited about what we were doing and would have talked with me all day if I had been able to!
Tags: membership, pensions
by E B—Colorado
Today I met a fascinating man while canvassing in Thornton, Colorado. He is nearing his eightieth birthday and is still working part-time as a security guard to make ends meet. This hard working American had been fired just months before he was to receive retirement. When his wife of forty years unexpectedly died later that year he was hit with a large financial burden, as she did not have health insurance. She was followed in death by three of their five children. This man is still working to pay off the debt accrued for the burial of his family.
This powerfully positive man was very interested in what our organization is doing and was pleased to see that young people in this country still care about the issues. He told me, “There is a time to harvest and there is a time to sow. Right now we have to sow the seeds of change and a great harvest will come.”
Tags: membership
by Rachelle Paynter—Colorado
We’ve all had those nights where we feel like it cannot get any better. It could be a matter of the weather or you may have worn the wrong shoes on turf.
A few days ago I was having one of these nights. My favorite click-y Sharpie stopped working and my targeting was way off. That was until I met a mother and daughter living in Thornton, Colorado. The daughter really inspired me, because her mom signed up and wanted to becoming a dues paying member. Her daughter went to her room and brought back an extra five dollars of her own to add to her mom’s dues payment. From that moment my night changed and it enabled me to have a new outlook on my canvassing that evening.
Tags: membership, taking action
by Rachelle Paynter—Colorado
I’ve been in Colorado for a month now. The people here are amazing, but one woman in particular stands out in my mind. I was canvassing in Thornton, Colorado, which is an area that has been devastated by massive amounts of foreclosures. I met a woman who had been laid off at her job recently because she made too much money and they wanted to pay someone less wages to do her job. She was really thrilled that people were out in her community doing something about the issues that hit home with her, and she joined and gave a dues payment despite the fact that she lost her job.
Tags: foreclosures, Jobs, layoffs, the economy
