We are preparing for the 2004 election battle that the anti-union, far right forces will be waging against our candidates. The IBEW, and all other unions, have steadily increased the voter turnout of union members for the last several elections. We must absolutely work hard to continue this positive, upward trend.

In the 2004 elections we must take the opportunity to determine the outcome in the targeted races by getting more of our membership involved. Through worker to worker and labor to neighbor programs, we must talk to our members, our families and our friends about the candidates and issues that are so important to all of us. We can begin to win some of the close battles in 2004 if we work harder to educate our union members on the important issues.

Unions learned long ago that our hard fought victories at the bargaining table can be lost, in the legislative arena of Washington DC and the various state capitols, unless we elect our friends to political office. The people we elect to public office at the local, state and national levels must address issues such as the right to organize, the right to strike, the basic right to collective bargaining, civil rights and fair trade.

Protecting workers pensions, health care benefits, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security must also be addressed. Better education in our schools, environmental protections for clean air and clean water and strengthening occupational health and safety regulations, must also have a priority on our legislative agenda.

Corporate America and this administration have an agenda to weaken and undermine labor laws and reduce the protections and benefits that we currently enjoy. We cannot allow this to happen without a fight.

It is not really surprising to learn that many of our so-called elected representatives don't know anything about workers' rights or even how a labor union works. They often listen to lobbyists of the company and industry-sponsored political action committees. Many times the only way that elected officials hear our side of the issue is from union members such as YOU!