Happy Labor Day.

The holiday, which for many people has become another day to shop at Wal-Martbegan as a celebration of the dignity of labor. Sounds kind of quaint in this day of ruthless corporate outsourcing of jobs, health care crises across North America, and a jobs picture in the United States that is the worst in 75 years.

Wed like to start with a word to our Canadian members. There has been a lot in the Journal this year about the U.S. elections, and there will be a lot more in the next couple of issues, so please bear with us. We envy your system where the head of government calls an election, and the campaign lasts five weeks, which is shorter than the production cycle for our magazine. Contrast that with the U.S. presidential campaigns, which now last close to three years and seem to be getting longer all the time.

We salute our Canadian members for sending a message to Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin not to become too cozy with the corporations and forcing him to take the New Democrats as coalition partners. That will keep his feet to the fire on issues of health care and labor rights. We hope our U.S. members follow your lead.

For our members in the States, we are now at the beginning of what is traditionally the hottest part of the season, the period between Labor Day and Election Day. Polls show the presidential race to be very close, so it should not be surprising that our members often disagree over their choices. We have about 735,000 active and retired members in the United States, and it would be silly to expect a unanimous opinion. We all have different influences in our lives. Within our ranks are those who care deeply about many issues in society such as religion, the Second Amendment, the environment, natural resource conservation, civil rights and liberties, education, and many other topics that affect our lives. Many of us belong to other organizations devoted to advancing these causes.

As union brothers and sisters, we have a duty to understand and respect the individuality of each member as well as the differences we may have on some of these issues. Given our numbers, it is noteworthy that the characteristic that unites usour trade unionismis so strong that about three-fourths of our members routinely vote for pro-labor candidates.

Thats exactly why we comment on politics and try to get information into your hands about the candidates and where they stand on specific issues. No matter what other organizations you may belong to, we are the leaders of the organization that affects your working lifeour Brotherhood, our IBEW. The leadership of the National Rifle Association, the Christian Coalition, the Sierra Club or National Abortion Rights Leagueto name a fewmake no apologies for endorsing candidates or urging their members to vote a certain way. Neither will we. But unlike many of these groups, we dont need to resort to hype or fear. We ask only that you look around you at your job and in your communities. Do you like what you see?

Your union gives you a voice in the decisions that affect your life. Very few workers in any profession, no matter how well paid, can do better as "free agents" rather than standing together in unity. That is our core principle. Its why we exist. Its what drove the founders of the IBEW to defy the odds in 1891, and its what keeps us alive and well today in the many industries where our members work.

We work for justice on the job. We seek fair pay, benefits that provide adequate health and a dignified retirement, and job security. We promote the highest standards of skill and professional behavior in our trade. And we seek to extend the benefits of unionization to more workers.

And if were not keeping an eye on the political situation in the United States and Canada, were not doing our job.

As a result of several of our columns and other political communications we have sent, we have heard an earful from some members who support the Bush administration. Some have even accused us of demanding "blind obedience" to the Democrats and the Kerry/Edwards ticket.

"Blind obedience" is not our thing. It doesnt work. We learn that when we go out to organize new bargaining units. It takes clear thinking folks to join a union and reject the arguments from employers. In fact, a presidential election is a lot like an organizing drive. It takes clear thinking folks to make the right decision. Its not about Ed Hill and Jerry OConnor making decisions. Its all of us coming together to exercise some common sense.

Like an employer who resists unionization, the Bush/Cheney administration wants us to vacate common sense, forget every policy of theirs that has hurt us and spread the notion that things would be even worse if we elect Kerry/Edwards. If we are still unmoved, they try to convince usagain like that tired, old anti-union employerthat, "yes, weve made mistakes, but really we share your values more than the other guy."

And like an organizing campaign, the best weapon is the truth.

The IBEW and the other unions in the AFL-CIO have been waging a grassroots campaign this year. For your part, we have appointed coordinators in almost every state, especially those considered the battleground states. Many locals have appointed their own political action coordinators. Even in an age when the media chatter never stops, the good old-fashioned shoe leather and worker-to-worker approach is still effective. Were fighting this campaign on the ground and via the Internet, where our web site has a ton of good political information. And we will run more about the issues in the next issue of the IBEW Journal.

In the meantime, we are going to ask you to do two things. First, we want every IBEW member in the United States to register and vote in this election. No matter what your opinions or whom you support, your vote is your voice in our democracyin federal, state and local elections. Brave young men and women are serving in uniform to protect our freedoms. Many are our own members. What would you say to them if you dont even bother to exercise one of the most precious rights that they are defending?

Second, we want to know what you think. We want everyone to feel free to send their opinions, and we will publish as many as we can in a future issue of this magazine before the election as well as on our web site. Do you see this as the most important election your lifetime? What issues will motivate you to vote? Do you plan to take an active role in the election? Write to the Journal or send an e-mail to journal@ibew.org.

This Brotherhood belongs to all of us. And it will be up to all of us who live in the United States to be a part of the process that shapes the future of our country.

On November 2, you should either be in line at the polls or secure in the knowledge that you have sent in your absentee ballot. As we all learned in 2000, one vote counts. Use yours.

Edwin D. Hill

International President

Jeremiah J. OConnor

International Secretary-Treasurer