WAKE UP CALL

     For the past few months, members of my high school graduating class have been e-mailing
back and forth. I have pretty much stayed out of the fray, reading their messages but not responding, A few weeks ago, one of my former classmates, in reaction to a political message that had been forwarded to all of us, said the ensuing fury reminded him of an article in our school newspaper admonishing the class for its apathetic attitude. I wrote that article, in fact, I think it was the first "real article" I ever wrote.

    I don't really recall what inspired me to speak out against apathy (nor exactly what I wrote) all those years ago, but the memory triggered a similar reaction. Now, nearly 27 years after that original article, I again find myself dealing with the apathetic attitude of too many people.

   At this writing, we are at an economic crossroads m America. Is there a recession? Some say yes; others say no. in January, Alan Greenspan, the head of the Federal Reserve, indicated we were in an economic funk, only to apparently change his mind the following month. Newspaper headlines scream daily of tens of thousands of corporate layoffs. For many, sales are soft and revenues are flat or even down. Last years business heroes have metamorphosed into this years villains. What's really going on? And do you care?

     Unfortunately, it seems too many of us don't, and that's wrong. None of us live in a vacuum. We operate in an interconnected universe. What affects one of us can ultimately affect every citizen of this country.

   Have you asked yourself lately what you want, what you need to improve your life? What are your issues? What are you doing to voice them? After all, if you don't give a damn, who will? With the roller-coaster ride that the economy and the stock market has been on for the last
year, we may all be facing a cash crisis in the near future. Ask you prepared to deal with it now? Or are you going to react (or possibly overreact) when its almost to late?

     What about the companies that you work for are they Laying-off or considering lay-offs? If so act quickly (the rumor mill and the grapevine could make this situation even worse.) Companies in this situation should act kindly and give as generous a severance as they can, treat their laidoff workers with dignity. How they treat their departing employees sends a powerful message to the ones who remain. In today's economy, if they lose the trust and support of their remaining workers, it could sound the company death knell.

   Are there other issues that affect you? You bet! Have you talked to or wrote your Senator or Congressman lately? They can't act on your issues unless you tell them what they are.

   Before others can help us, we must first help ourselves. Apathy is a killer! It can destroy our lives and our jobs. As Eldridge Cleaver once said, "lf you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."
     In Solidarity
     MartyDemaris
     Directing Business Representative
     IAM/AW W-12