Union charity work brings Christmas all year ‘round

This year alone, 22 unions have donated $2,844,276  in cash and voluntary services  to more than 440 charities, organizations and individuals.

When Christmas ends Dec. 25, it will only end for family gatherings to celebrate the holiday. For the unions in Missouri and Illinois, however, Christmas is just a brief way- stop on their year-round effort to help charities and the less fortunate in their communities through crises and tragedies that are part of every community. Unions join the United Way and scores of other nonprofit agencies in extending a helping hand.

For unions, charity work brings Christmas all year ‘round!

Helping others is a heart-felt effort ingrained in union tradition.

They give their time, money and professional expertise to hundreds, if not thousands of groups, charities, organizations and individuals in need every day, year in and year out.

Here’s just one example: “Our members recently donated 20 vacation days to one of our members when his wife got breast cancer. He had no way to stay home to attend to her without loss of pay. We couldn’t let that happen. Those vacation days kept up his wages.”

They never ask for anything in return; they do it because it’s the right thing to do.

They rarely get recognition, seek it out or make their good deeds known, except for a story in the Labor Tribune, or their Local’s newsletter.

The proposed right-to-work (for less) campaign underway in Missouri, if successful, will not only weaken unions and their abilities to help working families have better wages and working conditions, but reduce their ability to participate in charities that are such an important part of our local communities.

The Labor Tribune felt it important that people in and out of the Labor Movement understand the scope of the unselfish giving from union members to the communities in which they live.

That’s the purpose of this special insert: to let you understand yet another hidden value the unions bring to our communities, value few ever see except those on the receiving end of the unions’ good deeds.

We are reprinting some of the stories that have appeared – just this past year – to give you a feel for the depth and scope of union giving all year around. And it goes on year after year.

In a Labor Tribune survey this month, we discovered that the 22 unions who responded gave $2,844,276 in either direct cash contributions or provided their skills and talents free because there was a need, and it was simply the right thing to do.

When you realize that there are over 250 unions in our area alone, and several thousand across Missouri, one begins to grasp the enormity of help our unions provide, FREE, never asking for anything in return.

Some Republican lawmakers and out-of-state Big Money interests are bankrolling the effort to adopt this anti-worker law in Missouri.

When you hear someone bashing the unions, remember that union members are your friends and neighbors; unions are good for Missouri. Their volunteer involvement shown in this edition of our paper is just a partial example of how unions care.

Don’t be misled. Say “NO” to the phony right-to-work (for less) propaganda.

Groups helped by unions’ charity work