Hello everybody. Big Bill here. I just wanted to update you on the Emploee Free Choice Act. I wrote about its passage in the US House of Representatives a few weeks ago. The US Senate is finally starting hearings. Although it will probably pass the Senate, President Bush already said he will veto it, and we still don’t have enough votes in the US Senate to override a presidential veto. Let’s keep our eyes on this. American workers need to regain their voice and strength in this country, and it all starts with a fair playing field for fighting for collective bargaining rights. Remember, last year over 23,000 Americans were fired from their jobs for talking to union representatives about organizing their places of work–a clear violation of the National Labor Relations Act. But until employers face stiff fines and sanctions for doing this, nothing will change.
I mentioned in one of my blogs that I live in Toppenish–it looks like the emporer has no clothes. The right-wing, racist Republicans (i.e. Elaine Willman) are defending Mayor Bill Rogers and his kooky wife. Those of us who actually think for ourselves know the Mayor would not have said what he said (about tribal members) unless it was already in his heart–no matter how many times he publicly declares: “I’m not a racist, really, I’m not.” Our problems in Toppenish all boil down to mismanagment, and the Republicans’ inability to stand up proudly and cheer for small government. It’s time for them to quit looking for scapegoats, and it is time that they leave the Yakama Nation alone and quit blaming the Nation for our problems. It is time for change.