Posted on 06/27/2005 4:48:18 PM PDT by AFA-Michigan
A former local UAW activist, known for his sometimes-maverick views and hard-line stance against General Motors, is among a handful of Michigan residents joining a drive to oppose the AFL-CIO's support of gay rights.
Michael Westfall, a retired truck driver and member of UAW Local 598, is one of three state residents who have signed a national petition organized by the socially conservative American Family Association. It urges the union to rescind its opposition to a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
"I really feel the leadership of the union, the top leadership, has really separated itself from the membership on the values issues," said Westfall, who retired in 1994 and now lives in Presque Isle in northern Michigan. "I think that the union leadership has become much too ultra-liberal."
Westfall, a self-described "rebel," was a prominent local figure in the 1980s, leading groups that fought GM appeals of its property tax assessments and opposed concessions by the UAW in its national contract with the automaker.
Through numerous columns and letters in local and national publications, he railed against outsourcing and the use of technology to reduce jobs, while advocating shorter work weeks and cost-of-living benefits for retirees. His work gained notice from people such as consumer advocate Ralph Nader.
Westfall, 59, now finds himself aligned with state Sen. Mike Goschka, R-Saginaw, and Gary Glenn, Michigan president of the American Family Association in signing the petition against the AFL-CIO.
The leader of the state AFL-CIO said the effort is less about gay rights than about a "right-wing" group's anti-union agenda.
"I'm not anti-union, but the union doesn't come first," Westfall said. "With Christians, Christ and the Bible come first."
The petition is part of an effort to raise awareness of the issue in advance of the AFL-CIO national convention in July, Glenn said. The AFA is encouraging union members to withhold dues and is offering legal assistance to anyone who wants to do so because of the AFL-CIO's stance on same-sex marriage.
"When (union members) are informed, I think they are going to respond strongly," Glenn said.
The executive council of the AFL-CIO passed the resolution supporting the "full inclusion and equal rights" of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers in March. It also attacks the marriage amendment supported by President Bush, saying the union does not support amending the U.S. Constitution to "discriminate against any group of people by denying them rights."
State AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney noted gay marriage is not really an issue in Michigan, since voters banned legal recognition of same-sex relationships in November. The union opposed that measure because of its infringements on collective bargaining agreements, he said.
"They are using the religious concerns of the members to sow dissension with their union," Gaffney said of the AFA petition. "We appreciate that our members have divergent views. We don't tell anybody how to live. We're just trying to get more jobs."
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Quick take
For more on the issue:
To view the AFL-CIO executive council resolution: www.aflcio.org/aboutaflcio/ecouncil
To view the American Family Association petition: www.afa.net/pdfs/lettertoaflcio.pdf
Are You A Proud Union Queer?
Pride at Work (AFL-CIO)
http://www.prideatwork.org/sp05/art7.htm
Last thing I'd submit to in joining a union is a short arm inspection. These guys are bunch of perverts.
The AFL -CIO appears to have lost sight of their purpose on this planet, and appear to be as clueless as the clowns running GM and Ford.
Never happen, the rank and file are nothing but ignorant robots. Evidence the recent controversy at Solidarity House here in Detroit where they chose to ban any foreign cars owned by military personnel from parking on their lot.....
The UAW Benefits Rep. for my company on the east side of Detroit actually defended his homies action despite the fact that his own son was a marine.........
Don't have much respect for someone who demands that the people who create jobs for him pay him what he thinks hes worth.
http://www.neoperspectives.com/unions.htm
Heck, if they're going to rob employers, might as well not discriminate what thieves are members.
The AFL -CIO appears to have lost sight of their purpose on this planet, and appear to be as clueless as the clowns running GM and Ford.
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The unions are bankrupting these two great car companies. Even worse, these companies are now whinning to teh government about national health care etc.. to try to get the theieving unions off their back.
The UAW Benefits Rep. for my company on the east side of Detroit actually defended his homies action despite the fact that his own son was a marine.........
The actions cited above were orchestrated by union activists. Activists in unions constitute a small minority, 15 percent at most by my estimates. I would not underestimate the potential strength of rank and file union members to spontaneously become a political force in the culture wars. More are socially conservative in my experience than are those in other work sectors. The problem with unions is that the national organizations have taken over the operations that once were held at a local level. The communist national organizers are using the national organizations to orchestrate politics. This is one of he reasons that strikes are now rare compared to twenty and thirty years ago. The national leaderships are making their pacts with corporations and the devil. The bankrupt pension plans are soon coming home to roost.
Don't be surprised to wake up one day and see trade locals revolting from national leadership. I would love to see them burn effigies of their leadership.
later pingout.
Here's a link to the orignial article:
www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0503/13/C01-115531.htm
Isn't Ford giving $1000 from every Jaguar sale to some gay rights organization?
Policies like that also bankrupt the auto industry. Labor may be priced too high but you have to make money on the end product to turn a profit.
Homosexual Agenda Ping.
It's encouraging to read about people like Westfall, who's taking a stand and taking action. Especially so when it seems as though the powers on high (SCOTUS...) is doing everything they can to undermine the very basic freedoms and rights of the citizenry.
There is a time for everything under the sun.
Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.
When I speak of union activists, the 15 percent who take the Kool Aid, I mean the union bosses (Gettlefinger) and their henchmen -- the union president, the business agents, the shop stewards, and the featherbedded hacks who hold the picket signs. The rest, the chumps, are there for the money.
All unions are power organizations run like mafia mobs. Most of the union members are chumps who need to make a living. My point is that the socialist-communist national organizations have ursurped loacal union leadership. That's why all this crap about homosexuals is now part of union politics. The basic union chump does not care for this. Expect a change. The change will blow the national leadership away once the chumps find all their pensions have been stolen. It's coming as sure as the sun rises and sets.
The Unions should be worrying about Illegal Immigration, Mexican trucking companies, instead of queer rights.
I agree with you.....
EXCUSE ME but I am a member of the rank and file and I am no robot! I oppose homosexual rights and believe marriage is between a man and a woman.
That's telling him (her)!
Westfall is most likely the smartest and most articulate
worker in this country.All we have to do on any computer is punch in "Mike Westfall Papers" and several of his hard hitting papers show up.Most people are very aware of his abilities and his concern for our nation and people.
The AFA working with Westfall could turn out to be one of the most important combinations to preserve our culture.
The AFA and Westfall are not afraid and unbeatable.
Let us all join the AFA and help them!
Jerry Reed
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