_Greetings Brothers and Sisters of UAW Local 1050,

   Another year is almost over, and I would like to wish you and your families a safe and wonderful holiday season. We have had so many highs and lows this year. I try to always remain optimistic and I’m very excited to see so many of you returning to work. With our economy still in disarray and so many Americans homeless and without health care it’s hard to stay so upbeat. I have never understood why all people couldn’t just care enough about their fellow man to just want good things for everyone. I dream of a day that all sick people can receive treatment and medication, and I pray for a day where no one will die from starvation or face homelessness. I watch the politicians and I wonder how they can make some of the decisions that they make when they have so much and so many have so little .

   We are partially to blame you know. If all we do is sit home and gripe, and not check the voting records of our elected officials on issues that affect our families and communities then we allow them to continue to deal with the politics of Washington instead of the collective power of the people. If lobbyists can use their money and power to sway elected officials then we must use our collective power and stay engaged and vote for those take care of us and vote out those that cast votes that are not in our best interest.

   Please think about your fellow man this season as you celebrate the holiday season, and please know that someone somewhere is suffering. If you only have a word of encouragement to offer please do so. We have to ask ourselves how I would want someone to treat me if I was hungry, jobless, homeless and discouraged. We are all a part of the human family, and no matter how many things divide us we have many things in common. To me it’s quite simple do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

   In Solidarity,

   Shervon Redd