Foreign conglomerates continue to
purchase American companies, as in the case of InBev buying
Anheuser-Busch. Once again, corporate greed trumps what is best for the
American worker and our nation’s future economic health. What now is
the fate of our local Anheuser-Busch workers and the local economy?
We’ve been asked these questions before with the takeover of Carrier by
United Technologies. Once again, the greed of a few who have so much to
gain is deemed more important than the rest of the nation that has so
much to lose. So where is the leadership?
Honeywell recently announced moving all
of its remaining manufacturing to China. New Process Gear threatens to
shut down. Our politicians then show up as “Johnny Come Lately” to try
and save jobs after failing to be proactive with incentives to keep
jobs or create new jobs locally. Where is the leadership?
Our nation is having another
presidential election this fall and we must all ask before we
vote—where is the leadership? Do any candidates have the foresight to
look ahead and see what is best for our future or will they continue to
yield to short-term gains for a select few in the name of greed?
On this Labor Day, starting at 11 a.m.,
the Greater Syracuse Labor Council will sponsor the annual parade of
our working families followed by a rally and then a luncheon at the New
York State Fair. Twelve-thousand members of the labor community will be
participating. While we celebrate our past, we look to the future with
prayers of hope that we find the leadership that will steer this nation
in a new direction.
Unions will continue to represent the
needs of working families to balance against the greed of a few. They
will continue to fight for living wages, pensions and healthcare.
Without social justice and economic balance, our nation cannot sustain
itself and future generations will suffer. It will take new leadership.
—Dennis J. Nave, M.D.
President, Greater Syracuse Labor Council
