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What have we learned from our first year under Republican control of all branches of government? Elections matter. The mid-term election is critically important. And when we vote, we must not be taken in by hollow promises. We must not be distracted or deterred from our course by the peculiar distractions of this government. We must insist on something better from Washington. We do not want more politicians who forget about working families after Election Day.

This weekend, 300 UAW members and allies protested outside the North American International Auto Show in support of members being laid off by Fiat Chrysler. The workers, members of Local 12 in Toledo, Ohio, are drivers and mechanics who service and deliver parts to Chrysler plants. Their jobs will be replaced by non-union contractors. Bruce Baumhower, President of Local 12 said, "The company has decided to send that work out to a non-union company, without bargaining it with us. We've had two meetings with the company on this.

Each year, Union Plus awards scholarships to students from union families across the country. Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor. Scholarships are awarded in amounts of $500 to $4,000, and students may reapply each year.

Last year, UAW members and their children were awarded thousands of dollars to help them continue their education through the Union Plus Scholarship program.

Today we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an icon of the civil rights movement and a champion for the rights of workers. Locals and members across the country will be participating in a day of service to honor his legacy and serve their communities.

Union members across the country wear red shirts on Wednesday to show solidarity and to make their voices heard by management in a small way. The practice was started by the Communication Workers of America who wear red on Thursdays in order to honor Gerry Hogan, a member who was killed while on the picket line. The practice has taken on even more significance with recent attacks on workers' rights by legislatures across the country.

Veterans Committees a Key Part in the Life of a Local Military service is a sacrifice for soldiers and families. Long, lonely years are spent without a loved one at home or in a foreign land surrounded by danger. The lucky ones come home without serious injuries. But once they get home, their service and needs require acknowledgement and support.