Your Vote Matters – and Your Involvement Multiplies its Impact

Local 5 union contracts are among the best in the country. They guarantee our wages, secure our health and retirement benefits, and establish our general working conditions. But many of the workplace standards that we enjoy, and indeed the very strength of our union, can be put at risk if we elect the wrong people to political office. Conversely, if we work to elect pro-worker and pro-union candidates to local, state, and federal office, we can continue to make progress for ourselves and for all working families.

Examples of the difference that we can make through political action are many. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our political efforts highlighted the role that Local 5 members play as essential workers in our communities and resulted in legislative victories that protected the health and safety of our members and in some cases, resulted in well-deserved hazard pay.

We have worked to pass laws that protect our members in the cannabis industry while enhancing their ability to secure union representation. And in our nation’s capital we have seen the difference that electing a pro-union President can make on issues like retirement security, affordable healthcare, rights on the job and the right to join a union. And more recently, we are using our political clout to oppose industry mergers that threaten the livelihoods of our members.

It’s simple – elections matter and your vote matters. Local 5 will continue to provide you with the facts and our recommendations to help you make the best decisions when you fill out your ballot.

Voting the first step – but you can do much more. Get involved, work on a campaign, talk to your co-workers and become not just a voter, but a political activist. There’s a lot at stake. Let’s get to work!