President's Message

Dear Members,

From all the members of the Executive Board and myself, we hope and pray that you are safe and healthy in this time of crisis. It is with great satisfaction that I am posting this message on our new website. Despite the issues we encountered over the pandemic, it is finally up and running. Please take some time to browse and see the improvements we’ve made. Thank you for your patience and continued support in these trying times. Please remember that wearing a mask is not a political statement, it will keep us all alive.

We have nothing to inform you regarding the negotiations concerning our new contract. Our current contract ends this year and the Executive Board is working diligently to get us the best possible deal. The COVID-19 pandemic has made negotiations difficult to navigate, but we will persevere.

The insurrection at our capital on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021, is antithetical to democracy. The election was not stolen from Trump. He lost in a fair and free election, and he needs to shut the hell up. What he did was treason and let no one tell you otherwise. Many elections are done by mail. Republican politicians push for in-person voting restrictions because it allows them to further suppress the vote. Our whole democratic belief system is based on majority rules, but only if it is the majority that I want. When Clinton lost, she did not start a campaign against the legitimacy of the new administration. She conceded. Trump, however, relies on a scorched policy orchestrated by Roger Stone, who set up the “steal the vote” campaign back in 2016 in case Trump lost. The claims of a fraudulent election are entirely motivated by this angry fascist’s damaged ego.

The American flag cannot mask the rampant hatred in our society. The greatest conflict in our country is not one of race, religion, or gender, but of class. The ruling class continues its assault against us, the workers and the real producers of their capital. They have pit us against each other so they can remain in power. We are all entitled to live a peaceful and decent life.

Even as I grow older, I continue to hold my beliefs in mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, taught to me by my immigrant parents at a young age. Throughout history, oppressed people have fought for their right to life. From childhood, we are taught fairness as a virtue, and then realize how little our country reflects it as we come of age. We don’t all have to be friends, but we do have to respect each other. We need to strive for freedom and justice, so we can all have this right. As we fight COVID-19, we must also do our best to eradicate the disease of hatred. Know that Trump and his followers are not the disease, but they are sure as hell infected with it.

We are in the process of setting up a virtual General Membership Meeting. Please check the website for any updates. We hope to have the meeting in the near future.

In unity,
James Golden
President