In Michigan, Union Members Challenge McCain on Economy

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/05/07/in-michigan-union-members-challenge-mccain-on-economy/

Brent Gillette, Labor 2008 director for Michigan, sends us a report on Sen. John McCain’s visit to Michigan.

When Sen. John McCain visited Rochester, Mich., this morning, he was met by a contingent of union members asking him for solutions to the crisis facing the economy.

Some 28 union members gathered in front of the hall where McCain was set to speak and distributed fliers on McCain’s anti-worker record on trade, health care and jobs.



Mark Gaffney, president of the Michigan State AFL-CIO, says McCain’s votes on trade and the economy are proof that he’s out of touch with working families.

John McCain will not likely have a government and an administration that does enough or cares enough about creating good-paying manufacturing jobs here in America.

McCain doesn’t seem to get it when it comes to the economy. He’s avoided meeting with union members about the housing crisis and health care. His health care plan would raise taxes on workers, but he’s voted to give tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas. And he recently re-affirmed his strong support for bad trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Central American Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement—while standing in front of a shuttered factory.

McCain’s car zipped by the union picketers on the way to today’s event. Maybe he should have stopped to pick up a flier—he could learn a thing or two about the issues facing working families.

This Saturday, hundreds of union volunteers around the state will go door to door to educate their fellow union members about health care, the economy and the upcoming election.