Some local labor leaders say it’s important for their members to stay active in their unions. They were interviewed by VermilionCountyFirst.com News out along the Labor Day Parade route.
Lee Bennett is President of Local 347-G of the Baker, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers union. ‘’Quaker Oats is a good paying job, and if we didn’t have a union then they would try to cut us down and we would only be making minimum wage. So it’s very important that people get active to keep the membership up, and all the people get their raises and their benefits throughout the years – and they can retire and be happy,’’ said Bennett.
Mike Twidwell, President of the Danville Education Association, noted that people have belonged to unions for over a century. ‘’It goes all the way back to probably the 1880s, 1870s – when they started unions and Labor Day in different parts of the country. So it’s just another way to unify everybody and everyone is a part of something with a greater cause,’’ said Twidwell. ‘’It gives the people a meaning, and a belonging and the power for change.’’
But Vickie Dodge (shown on left), President of AFGE Local 1963 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Danville noted there are not as many unions in our area as there used to be. ‘’They’re pretty scarce and hopefully we’re going to build and mobilize and with solidarity come together and build it back up. That’s what we need. We need to build it back up,’’ said Dodge.
Union workers from the VA recently staged an informational picket in Danville to show their concern about a large number of vacancies. Since then, Dodge says the VA has filled several of the positions.
[In the photo Dodge is shown with her daughter, Arian, and grandson, Jace, prior to the start of the Danville Labor Day Parade.]
