The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) have endorsed John McCain for President. They claim, through their chairman, Bill Fairchild, that "...Senator McCain best represents the free enterprise values of the ABC."  Many labor unions respectfully submit that "free enterprise" is Big Business code for "keeping the workers poor and ensuring that they are truly scared for their jobs."

Remember, only one side can prevail in this race...

It is important that you remember that labor unions view political candidates at all levels solely on how they treat workers and their families and how they vote on workers' issues in general. Unions do not tell their members whom to vote for, but they would be remiss were they not to point out the differences RELATED TO WORKERS' ISSUES between candidates vying for the same office...

PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ABC POSITIONS (And our responses in yellow):
(All the ABC propaganda can be found by clicking here and following the links)

Davis Bacon--(ABC Propaganda) The Davis-Bacon Act is a Depression-era wage subsidy law enacted in 1931. Its time has run out. In the 21st Century, especially in the new competitive global economy, it is essential to allow the free market system to determine wages. ABC strongly supports legislative and regulatory efforts designed to limit the negative effects of the Davis-Bacon Act. (Website administrator's NOTE): Free market is synonymous with the previously discussed "free enterprise." It's more Big Business Code for diminishing the capacity of workers in their struggle for equity. You want Davis Bacon eliminated? John McCain and his pals at the ABC will gladly accommodate you.

Immigration--(ABC Propaganda) ABC and its member companies face shortages of craft professionals and legal laborers who have extreme difficulty in becoming citizens or obtaining the necessary work permits. (Website administrator's NOTE): They can find plenty of skilled help at union halls throughout the country but the wages are too high and the workers want benefits. Forget about it! This is also why they despise salting (see next item), as labor unions often expose ILLEGAL immigrant employee bases. They carefully shroud their policy with "legal laborers." Labor's experiences are they are not practicing what they preach in many cases. Where do illegal workers go for justice when they are exploited? They are a captive audience.  

Salting-- (Website administrator's NOTE): Salting allows labor unions to uncover rampant cheating in their industry. Here's the ABC's feelings (remember, when labor unions uncover cheating we are eating into profits). Check out the last statement they make; "salting campaigns have been used successfully." Why do you think they want it eliminated? More importantly, why does John McCain support their position? 

Project Labor Agreements--(ABC Propaganda) ABC strongly opposes union-only project labor agreements (PLAs) on construction projects. These agreements not only exclude open shop contractors from bidding on projects paid for by their own tax dollars, but also drive up the cost of construction by reducing competition for the work. (Website administrator's NOTE): It is a straight out lie for them to claim they are excluding from bidding on ANY taxpayer funded pro governed by a PLA. It is ILLEGAL to exclude them. They do not bid these projects because they do not want to subject their workers to a better way of life. That is a business decision and they should be ashamed to LIE, but they do not seem to be ashamed to do anything that will allow them to undermine and ultimately destroy Organized Labor. George W. Bush is their muscle now. John McCain is waiting in the wings as a viable replacement. They are liars, plain and simple, when they claim they are "excluded" from bidding taxpayer funded projects. You know the old story about one lie leading to still another lie to cover up for the first one. Consider this Lie #1 and let the snowballing begin!

Job Targeting--(ABC Propaganda) The practice of Job targeting, also known as "market recovery funds," collects fees from union members for providing financial subsidies to union contractors on projects where they face competition from merit contractors. (Website administrator's NOTE): Unions do not pass on their social responsibilities to the nation's taxpayers. The ABC does. It is not evident in a snapshot, but will become clear as the decades wear on and people working without collective bargaining agreements have nowhere to turn when they can no longer ply their trade. The only solution will be to nail the taxpayers.

Job Training--(ABC Propaganda) "John McCain supports the strengthening of community college training programs enabling workers to lead productive and prosperous lives." (Website administrator's NOTE): Contemporary wisdom leads one to believe that Republicans are the sentry at the gate when it comes to protecting the average American taxpayers from tax increases. Here are two issues to consider:

• The ABC relies on "community colleges" to provide the technical training for the construction industry. Community colleges are taxpayer funded entities. According to a recent survey by The Construction Institute (TCI), "From 1997 to 2007 two UNION state certified apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts graduated 680 iron workers to journeymen status. In the same time period, 21 NON-UNION state certified iron worker apprentice programs graduated SIX (6) apprentices to journeymen status. The 680 UNION graduates' education was privately funded. Who's putting the burden on the taxpayers? The ABC and JOHN McCAIN. Who's training the workers? Organized Labor and private sector contractors.
• According to a February 2008 Bloomberg story author Kevin Hassett claimed the following: "If (George W.) Bush had promised in January 2001 that the baseline of government spending that he inherited when he took office would be the cap during his term, then we would have a big budget surplus today. It would have been easy to do. He just had to say: ``I will not spend one penny more than President Bill Clinton planned to. I will veto any bill that tries to.'' I have written before in this space that Bush has outspent Clinton by a mile. With government spending still out of control, the gap between where we are and where a disciplined nation could have been is getting bigger and bigger." (Website administrator's NOTE): Spin is what politics is all about. They will paint worker friendly candidates as pariahs who want to tax you to death. They will scare you on any number of social issues to keep your eye off their true intentions. The ABC wants John McCain because, like George W. Bush, he will march in lockstep with their demands as outlined above as well as on so many other anti-union, anti-workers issues that are too numerous to list. Unions represent your interests on wages, working conditions, and safety. Unions must view candidates in that vacuum as union membership reflects a wide and varied spectrum when it comes to social issues. One thing union representatives can tell you without equivocation. A vote for John McCain is going to have a negative effect on your ability to find work as you move forward. On that you can be sure and on that you should be clear.

It's your choice...it's your VOTE...and it's YOU and your family who deserve good wages, comprehensive benefits, and safe working conditions so you return home each evening.

The ABC hates Organized Labor...The ABC adores John McCain...It's your job to decide if our nation's myriad of social issues--on which groups of union members from any area of the country vehemently disagree with each other, yet continue to work side-by-side with each other on a daily basis--should supersede your ability to make a decent living.

If you still disbelieve that a John McCain Presidency will be nothing more than a continuation of four more years of George W. Bush's policies

You will notice that the ABC is gloating over the fact that KARL ROVE (a.k.a. Bush's Brain) "...HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS THIS YEAR'S KEYNOTE SPEAKER..." to their members. They add the following if you click on "READ MORE" under the Karl Rove announcement:

If you still don't believe their true intentions

FOCUS ON THIS PORTION OF THE ABC'S PRESS RELEASE: "...Following Rove’s address, Legislative Conference participants will have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to discuss important legislative issues that impact their businesses, including “card check” elections, union-only project labor agreements and expansion of the Davis-Bacon Act. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet with Bush administration officials and top officials at the nation’s federal agencies to ensure that the voice of the merit shop construction industry is heard on important policy decisions...."  

Again, a union's role is simple. Unions represent your interests insofar as making a good living under safe working conditions and it is of equal importance that you understand what labor unions have encountered on a daily basis over the past eight years. Four more years of George W. Bush's policies hidden under the cloak and admiration of John McCain's legitimate heroism to his country are not in union members' best interest. Big Business votes its pocketbooks and its bottom line. You must consider placing your livelihood in a paramount position to any social issues for this election and vote YOUR pocketbook.

George Bush was an oil man and it should be clear to you when you are filling your vehicle at, and in some cases above, $4.00 per gallon, that his fellow oil men and their Big Business cohorts (e.g., defense contractors) have been handsomely rewarded for their undying loyalty. When Bush was elected (selected?) President by the United States Supreme Court in 2000, a gallon of gas cost $1.55---the subsequent run-up in price should not be construed as a coincidence. Keep a sharp eye on who Big Oil endorses...this will be a key indicator as to what you can expect moving forward.

As the weeks and months wear on, we will compare and contrast the candidates' records. Our hope is that you will recognize the significant differences...        JH