Today we pause to commemorate the 80th birthday of the Revered Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to rededicate our union and ourselves to the struggle for economic equality for which Dr. King gave his life. For our union, every day must be Dr. King day until we are free of the threat of foreclosure on our homes, the threat of bankruptcy if we or a member of our family becomes sick, and the threat of being

Fortunately, today also brings the end of eight long, horrific years of the Bush Administration and the beginning of an historic time in which we will have a greatly improved atmosphere in which to work for the change we need. Today we celebrate President Barack Obama; tomorrow we go to work with new energy.

One of the most important tasks we begin the year with is pushing the new administration and Congress to enact the Employee Free Choice Act. No matter how big the economic stimulus plan turns out to be, it will not bring prosperity to working people unless we also restore workers’ freedom to join unions and bargain for a better life. We must win this legislation now. We cannot stand by and allow the new administration and Congress to put it on the back burner as some press reports suggest they will.

Local 1700 members in Los Angeles will participate in a march and rally in support of the Employee Free Choice Act on February 5. Workers need to mobilize all across the country to pressure our elected representatives to pass this essential legislation. In addition, everyone should pick up the telephone and place a toll-free call to 1-866-207-2060 and leave a message for your senators urging them to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act. If you can dial Roadkill, then you can dial 1-866-207-2060. Do it now.