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The UTU News regularly contacts members at random to report their thoughts on a question of interest to the general membership. This month's question: |
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Do you feel you have a personal stake in the upcoming elections? |
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The UTU News regularly contacts members at random to report their thoughts on a question of interest to the general membership. This month's question: |
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Do you feel you have a personal stake in the upcoming elections? |
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"I'm a conductor on the Union Pacific, working as a switchman. It's very important to me who wins the election, and I think the outcome is very important to all labor unions. I work hard with our state legislative director to make sure everybody is registered and knows the candidates' positions. We don't force anybody to vote a particular way, but we explain why the people we're supporting are in their best interest. I don't vote a certain way because the UTU tells me to, but I vote the way I feel, and it happens to coincide with the UTU's recommendations."
"I'm a yardmaster working for CSX. I've worked in the rail industry for about 30 years, and I feel I do have a personal stake in the elections. I vote for what's best for the future for me and my family. I'm concerned about what politicians do on railroad issues because that's my livelihood. If it's going to affect the carriers and me, then I'm concerned. The presidential election matters to me because the president appoints these people on mediation boards and emergency boards. If they're not friends of ours, we're not going to get anything out of it. "
"This is my 24th year as a school bus operator, and I definitely feel I have a stake in this election. If Bush gets elected, we're just going to go back to the way it was when Reagan and the elder Bush were in office, and I don't want to see that happen. Big business will do wonderfully well, but the little guy won't do so well at all. Under Bush, bus drivers may see a trickle-down effect as companies gain power and unions lose it. We face contract negotiations in two years. Under Reagan and the elder Bush, we just took what we got. We couldn't even think about striking."
"As far as contracts go, I think we stand a much better chance with a Democratic Congress and a Democratic president. But honestly, I don't think I'll feel that much of a personal impact. I think local races affect me more than the presidential race. The mayor and city council control property taxes and the services you get on a day-to-day basis. I'm registered as a Democrat, but I'll vote for whoever I think is the best person. More times than not, that's a Democrat. I think they tend to help everybody, and not a select few."