For all current election issues click uaw.org - Political Action

Attention:  Local 249 Members

  V-CAP CHECKOFF DRIVE BEGINS ON MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

From trade policy to health care, education to retirement security, taxes to roads and highways – politics affects our daily lives. That’s why it’s essential for working families to make our voices heard in local, state and national politics. And one of the most effective ways to do that is by contributing to our union’s voluntary political action committee – UAW VCAP.

Our contributions to the UAW V-CAP are used to support the campaigns of pro-working family candidates who have earned the endorsement of the UAW Community Action program (UAW CAP).  Many members think that the leadership is trying to tell people how to vote.  That is not the case.  A lot of our members think that part of their union dues go to political groups.  This is also untrue – and illegal.  The money collected from V-CAP check off goes to candidates.  All V-CAP money is donated through V-CAP check off and raffles.  A member of the CAP committee will be visiting your work area starting Monday, August 22^nd, ending Friday, October 21st to inform you about the benefits of donating to V-CAP. 

For what political offices does the local endorse candidates?

Locals generally work through the UAW Community Action Program structure to endorse candidates for any elected office.  They work in city, county, area or state CAP councils and are involved in the endorsement of statewide or local officials, US representatives and US senators.

How does the union decide which candidate will be endorsed?

In order to evaluate a candidate, unions generally conduct a screening process of each candidate.  For incumbents, unions consider his or her voting record on labor and related issues.  For non-incumbents, unions consider the candidates position statement and support for labor and related issues, such as social legislation, education, etc.

Why should you support labor-endorsed candidates as opposed to other candidates?

Labor-endorsed candidates are more likely to support issues of concern to working members and their families.  In fact, the Labor House Bill that was passed in the State of Missouri would not have passed without the help of V-CAP.  This Labor House Bill helps to keep manufacturing alive in Kansas City .

Why don’t more workers support labor-endorsed candidates?

Sometimes workers make their selections based solely upon a candidate’s position on single “hot button” non-labor issues.  That candidate, however, will vote on many more issues than just that one.  Be careful.

Protecting our collective bargaining gains through political action should be a priority of every UAW member.

CAP - What It Does

CAP helps to register union members and their families so they can vote and make there voice heard.

CAP distributes the voting records of senators and congressmen and helps educate union members on the issues so they can be informed voters.

CAP endorses candidates on the basis of their voting records and/or their programs - not on the basis of their party affiliation.

CAP conducts annual voluntary dollar drives and V-CAP Check Off solicitations asking each union member to contribute to UAW V-CAP. Federal law prohibits the use of dues funds as contributions to candidates for federal and some state offices.

CAP contributes to endorsed candidates for the US House and Senate from funds collected in voluntary dollar drives.

CAP urges every union member and voting age member of his or her family to vote.

Most of CAP political work in states and communities is done by volunteers - union members and their families - who put in many hours on the telephone registering members, canvassing neighborhoods to find out how members feel about issues and candidates, and getting out the vote on election day.

In addition, CAP involves itself in many local community projects helping to bring about a better quality of life where our members live and work.

What CAP Doesn't Do

CAP does not tell anybody how to vote.

CAP does not force any union members to contribute to it.

CAP does not use dues money to make contributions to federal or state candidates (only moneys raised from V-CAP drives or raffles can be used).

CAP does not make union members participate in its programs in their local union or their community.

V-CAP Checkoff

The UAW's V-CAP Checkoff is a voluntary program that allows you to make a modest contribution each month to help your union support candidates who stand up for American workers and their jobs.

By law, Union dues can't be used to support any federal candidate, and in an ever increasing number of states, any candidate for public office. Our only means of monetary support for many labor-endorsed candidates is voluntary political contributions which are put into the International Union's political action fund, UAW V-CAP.

Local V-CAP Checkoff

If you are interested in having a voice in how the government is run, consider contributing to the V-CAP Checkoff. To sign up for V-CAP, contact: Dana Davidson, Financial Secretary or Dean Freed, CAP Committee Chairperson.

Realizing that what is gained at the Bargaining table can be taken away with a stroke of a pen at the Legislative Conference tables, and it is all of our jobs to be committed to defending politically what is gained collectively!

Why Labor Is In Politics

Labor Unions have always been under constant attack from business, industrial organizations and often from state and national legislatures and political leaders. Every time the US Congress or a state legislature opens a new session, a flood of bills intended to restrict the rights of workers and there families are introduced.

Workers have learned through bitter experience that there is a powerful link between the bread box and the ballot box. Gains won at the bargaining table or through sacrifice on the picket line can be wiped out by unwise actions of state or national legislatures and political leaders - that today's wage increase can be erased by taxes or inflation, or your job vanish in a wave of unemployment. Thus, unions are in politics to protect the welfare and security of their members.

Everyone is involved in politics whether we like it or not.
Here are a few things you may not know:

1. Gas and electric rates are set by the Public Service Commission appointed by the
governor.
2. Workers Compensation by the legislature.
3. Safety inspections under the Department of Labor appointed by the Governor.
4. Property laws by government officials.
5. Teachers, buildings and equipment by the Board of Education.
6. Children's playgrounds are overseen by the Parks Commission appointed by mayors.
7. Unemployment benefits are set by the legislature whom you elect.

Participate in CAP programs in your local union, your community and state.

Help in registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) programs.

Work to help the election of CAP endorsed candidates.

And what ever we do we all must vote for the candidates that have proven and will continue to stand up for our rights as workers and there families.

If you are interested in getting involved in state and local elections please feel free to contact: Jeff Wright, President or Dean Freed, CAP Committee Chairperson.