Elections and politics always dominate the agenda in even years. Next year will be no exception. In fact, it might be more intense. The last two election cycles have witnessed an ongoing battle for the soul of the nation--driven in part by the Democrats’ ability to break their hex and win a second term in the White House and the Republicans’ own ability to turn the table and hold on to control of Congress.

Just as important is the resurgence in labor activism. The AFL-CIO and trade unionists across the country are defining the issues that must be addressed by candidates of all stripes: rail safety regulations; the Federal Employers’ Liability Act; the security of the rail retirement system; union organizing rights; replacement workers; the minimum wage; corporate subsidies; collective bargaining representation; wage-and-hour protections; and more. It is against these break-and-butter, pro-worker, pro-family issues that candidates--new and old--will be measured.

Labor has vowed to end the up-and-down attention span that opened the door for the "spin" factor in which elected officials proclaimed to be friends of workers, while in reality they did little to help secure them a decent standard of living. But as labor raises the stakes in holding politicians accountable, it also must come through for those politicians who meet our standards and protect our members.

That all comes down to one universal: money.

Just as we can’t wait until Labor Day 1998 to look at candidates, we also can’t wait to raise the funds needed to help elect pro-worker candidates. We need seed money to push fledgling pro-worker politicians into the forefront. We need reliable contributions to keep our proven friends in office.

The Maintenance of Way Political League (MWPL) gives BMWE members a stronger voice in who runs this country and who makes the laws that affect every aspect of our daily lives--including, for rail workers, whether we live to see tomorrow. It is unfortunate, but true. Our clout increases with each dollar we have to give.

The bottom line is that we need to do better than we have been. There is just too much at stake.

Last year we saw a slight increase in contributions. Nearly 12 percent of the membership and leadership participated, up from just over 9 percent in 1995. And, they gave more. We took in $15,000 more in 1996 than in the previous year, with the average donation per member increasing by $4.

That’s a good base, but we need to build on it--even in this "off" year. We need your help. If you already participate, give more. Three quarters of those donating gave just $50 or less. If you don’t participate, start. This is a collective organization--everyone needs to pull their fair share.

Nearly a fifth of the top labor political action committees had fewer members than the BMWE, with the lowest ranked raising $468,000 during the 1995-96 cycle. The MWPL took in just $157,000.

We obviously can do more. But the issue isn’t about numbers and rankings. What I’m talking about is making sure your union has every tool, every means possible to do the job it is supposed to do... fighting for your rights, wages and jobs.

For the BMWE and our members to succeed we all must give. That’s how we grow stronger.

For more information on the MWPL and how to contribute, contact Secretary-Treasurer William E. LaRue at 248/948-1010 or Political Director Mike DeEmilio at 202/638-2135.