By PhillyLabor.com

As well as providing premium workers, services, products and labor, the strength of a union community depends on it’s political standing, which depends on it’s impact on the political process, which depends on it’s commitment to support, endorse, and elect political leaders that represent our interests, which, in the end, ultimately depends on our ability to vote.

The New PA. Voter ID Law ‘IS” in effect and, although there is an appeal coming, it is literally possible that the issue may not be resolved in time for the coming election. Let’s prepare as if it won’t be and make sure every single member of our our families and communities is registered and has the REQUIRED ID TO VOTE this election day and in SOLIDARITY, let’s get the vote out and secure the future of our union community!

Go to: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/voter/voteridlaw.shtml

A leader in the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania labor movement, Pat Eiding is active in many civic, charitable and government affairs. Prior to being elected President of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO in January 2002, Eiding served for over 25 years as Business Manager of the Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 14 covering Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

Eiding has risen through the ranks of leadership throughout his career. His union leadership roles include serving as past President of the Asbestos Workers Middle Atlantic States Conference, and past President of the Mechanical Trades Council in Philadelphia and New Jersey. He currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, as a member of the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, and as the Northeast Regional representative to the National AFL-CIO General Board.

In addition to his duties within the AFL-CIO, Eiding represents organized labor on a number of civic boards. He is the co-chairman of  PALM; sits on the Board of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania; serves on the Executive Committee of Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (WIB); as a Commissioner of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA); and a member of the Philadelphia Planning Commission.

Eiding is also very involved in the community through a variety of charitable organizations. His favorite charity is the Asbestos Workers Mesothelioma Fund which he helped to develop in 1992 in an agreement between the Insulators union and contractors. The Fund has raised close to $2 million for Fox Chase since its inception.

Through it all Patrick J. Eiding remains as committed and as passionate as ever to keeping Philadelphia and vicinity the top union region in America.

By Phillylabor.com

Union Brothers, Sisters and Supporters,

As this election season comes down the home stretch, it is essential to remember why our participation and impact as a union community can literally determine the future of our very livelihood and why we can’t stand by idly and think that others are going to do it for us. The success of a union community depends very much on its political standing and impact. Philadelphia and vicinity remains one of the strongest union regions in America largely because our union leadership understands these principles and is very active in the process of supporting political candidates and legislation that supports working families and union standards. This is particularly evident when looking at other regions of the country where unions have much less impact, such as the 23 Right To Work states where Right To Work legislation, as per Section 14(b) of the Taft–Hartley Act, authorizes individual states to outlaw the union shop for employees working in their jurisdictions.

This is exactly why unions and the political process go hand in hand. It is vital to understand that, now more than ever, the same exact thing can happen in Pennsylvania if we, as a union community, do not continue to fight hard to make sure that our message and our actions are clear during the upcoming elections. Do not for one minute think that it can’t happen to us. Every person with a union card or in a union family has a responsibility to support the efforts and political agendas of their own union’s leaders to campaign and vote for candidates who represent their interests.

Often as union members, we go to work, do our jobs and look to our union leaders to be our voice in the political process. In years past, it may have been possible to take a passive approach, relying on our union officials and a select group of fanatical members to carry the political torch on our behalf. But that is no longer the case today. In this day and age of big business and the shrinking middle class, it is important to understand that it is now all of our responsibilities as union members to go above and beyond the call of duty to participate and support our union leaders in every way possible. Anything less would be the equivalent of sending a commander into battle without “all” of his soldiers.

The BOTTOM LINE is we need to make sure that all of our voices are heard this election season. Candidates need to take us seriously and understand that we can and will impact on their candidacy. Most importantly, they need to understand that we support those who support us, and our actions during the campaign and in the voting booths on election day WILL speak even louder than our words. We MUST ensure that Pennsylvania NEVER becomes a “Right To Work” state.

In the coming months you will see PhillyLabor.com pushing hard to support the pro-union candidates that support our union standards as well as promoting hard to expose those who do not. We feel strongly as an online hub for the Philadelphia area union community that it is our responsibility to help make a difference in any way we can to help preserve the standards and conditions that generations have worked so long to achieve. Therefore in the coming months, if you are wondering why our message is so strong and sometimes a little redundant, it is because we are working like our livelihoods depend on it — because they do!

Let’s keep Philadelphia and vicinity the number #1 union region in America!

PhillyLabor.com

The following states are right-to-work states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming.

In honor of Labor Day, we want to welcome everyone out to join in the celebration at our 25th Annual Tri State Labor Day Parade and Family Celebration this coming Monday, September 3 (Labor Day) starting at 9:00am at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 at Columbus Blvd. and Washington Ave.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Giving Back to Our Community – Since 1999

The Samuel Staten, Sr. Charitable Trust raises funds to assist charitable organizations that provide services to the needy in the five county area of Philadelphia.

The Samuel Staten, Sr. Charitable Trust (formerly Laborers’ District Council Charity Fund of the Metropolitan area of Philadelphia and Vicinity) has been helping members and their families and the community enjoy a better standard of living by providing jobs and benefits since their charter in 1937.

The Samuel Staten, Sr. Charitable Trust believes in the principles that unionism was founded on: a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and worker’s rights. The Trust also believes that next-generation unionism must vigorously pursue workers’ rights based on management and union cooperation and the advancement of member education.

“We chose our charities based on how they relate to our members. We have given to charities that research disease, educate youth, teach life values, provide a safe haven to disadvantaged children and much more. Our events continue to be magnificent successes. The longevity of the golf event and the funds we have raised for various charities prove that organized labor can truly make a difference in the community.”

— Samuel Staten, Sr., Trustee
About The Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund is specifically designated to assist qualified students in their educational endeavors by providing educational scholarships to students in need.

The Qa’id Staten Memorial Charity Fund was established after a Perry N. Blackman (long time union auditor and coordinator of the annual fundraising golf events) and his family generously made a $10,000 donation in memory of Qa’id Staten to an educational institution of Qa’id’s father, Samuel Staten, Sr.’s choice. Mr. Staten chose to instead use the generous contribution to establish the Qa’id Staten Memorial Charity Fund, a charity fund within the Samuel Staten, Sr. Charitable Trust (formerly the Laborers’ District Council Charity Fund), with the mission of enabling disadvantaged, deserving students to seek higher education and perpetuate Qa’id’s legacy.

Qa’id Staten, the youngest son of Samuel Staten, Sr., Business Manager Laborers’ Local 332, was murdered just months before he was to attend Howard University. In his memory, The Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund’s mission is to work to help defray the costs of tuition, books and housing of the sons and daughters of the members of the Laborers’ District Council who would not be able to attend these institutions without some form of monetary assistance.

Awards have been given for tuition, trips, books, supplies and housing.
Submit a Scholarship Application to the Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund

Scholarships, in amounts up to $2,000, are awarded to high school or college students at the discretion of The Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee. Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed twice a year. Applications for the Fall Cycle are due by July 1 and awardees will be informed by August 1, so that the funds can be used for the Fall Semester. Applications for the Spring Cycle are due by November 1, and awardees will be announced by December 1, so that funds can be used for the Spring Semester. Late arriving applications cannot be considered for evaluation until the following cycle. Family of officers and agents of the Laborers’ District Council and its locals are not given any special consideration.

Scholarships are also available for programs such as field trips, learning abroad, and other special educational opportunities. These applications will be considered by the board throughout the year. Above deadlines do not apply.
Apply by Mail

Print a .pdf application and apply by mail (including FAFSA, SAT scores and transcript) to Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Blackman Brady Communications, 506 Corporate Drive West, Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047).
Apply Online http://statencharitabletrust.org/application.php

Apply online by submitting the form below. FAFSA, SAT scores and transcript must be mailed to Qa’id Staten Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Blackman Brady Communications, 506 Corporate Drive West, Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047.

The deadline for the Spring 2013 cycle is November 1 and awardees will be announced by December 1.

Sincerely,

Dana A. Brady

Adjunct Professor:
Holy Family University

Owner:
Blackman Brady Communications
506 Corporate Drive West
Langhorne, PA 19047
Office: 267-757-0726
Fax: 267-757-0725
Email: DanaBradyPR@aol.com
Web: www.BlackmanBrady.com