Washington, D.C.

The New Year will usher in a very busy schedule on the political action front for 2008 at both the state and national levels. Here are a few of the highlights that all UE Locals, Regions, members, and staff members need to be aware of – and making plans for.

The presidential caucus and primary season is almost here. For information on the positions of the 12 leading candidates in this far-from-ideal process, be on the lookout for your December, 2007, issue of the UE News. Your copy should have arrived in the U.S. Mail, and look for the article on pages 10-13 “UE Looks at the Presidential Candidates.” Unlike previous years the schedule of primaries is much more compact in 2008.

• For information on your state and the voter registration deadlines to observe, visit our election dates and registration deadlines [1] page.

With the looming caucuses and primaries in mind, it’s time to get going with a voter registration push in your workplace. Materials, state deadlines information, and suggestions and advice to do this are available from your union in UE Political Action [2].

The various state legislatures will convene their 2008 sessions, and lawmakers will deal with many critical issues of concern to UE members [1].

• To find the exact dates for your state legislative session, we've listed them along with our election dates and deadlines. [1]

Start making plans in your Local TODAY to send delegates to the UE Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. April 27-30. All Locals and staff members have received detailed information on this event by mail, including hotel costs and other necessary information. Please contact the UE Washington Office at (703)299-5120 if you would like more information. It has been several years since our last Conference, and this is your chance to meet your lawmakers and send them the rank-and-file message on the health care crisis, the war in Iraq, our pension debacle, labor rights, trade policy, and more.

Our national Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Delegates to the recent 70th UE National Convention were unified in their desire to work for dramatic political change via the election process. Take a minute to review this important resolution explaining the rank-and-file view of the coming election, “Independent Rank-and-File Political Action [3]” which was debated and ratified overwhelmingly by Convention delegates.

The coming year offers some hope for positive change on the political action front, a commodity all-too-often in short supply. It won’t happen by accident, however. You and your UE Local need to take action and make plans for these events in the coming year.

Season’s Greetings to all from the UE Washington Office, and best wishes for peace and prosperity in the New Year.