PAC

Plumbers Local Union No. 1 of New York City

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada

Click on these photos to take a tour of our great city.

Home

______________________________________________________________

Click here to print : PAC Authorization Card

______________________________________________________________

Who speaks for the New York union plumber?

______________________________________________________________

Every day, decisions are made in Washington DC, Albany, and City Hall which affect the lives of Plumbers Local 1 members. New bills are continually introduced before Congress, the State Assembly, and the City Council that can have a major impact on important workplace issues and many of our most basic rights as employees.

The halls of the State Assembly, and the City Council are filled with lobbyists and representatives of Big Real Estate, and Big Business, eager to put forth their views on the latest legislation. But do you ever wonder who is there to speak on behalf of our members? Who protects the interests of the New York union member?

______________________________________________________________

The Role of Political Action Committees

______________________________________________________________

Political Action Committees (PACs) have come under a lot of fire in the media and are frequently cited as an example of why we need campaign finance reform in the United States.

While our way of financing politics may not be ideal, PACs are not the problem. The truth is that under our current system, political action committees offer one of the few ways that union members can come together to make a significant impact on the political process.

Democracy in America is based on the premise that every individual can have a voice in the actions of government. In fact, the founders and greatest thinkers of our country have always insisted that for democracy to work, it must necessarily include the involvement of individual citizens.

But how do individuals like you make an impact? One way, of course, is by exercising your right to vote. Another way is through grassroots involvement on particular issues you care about. Finally, there is the issue of putting your financial support behind the candidates who you agree with.

We all know that money is part of the mechanics of our political system. The days of street corner or Union Square campaign speeches are gone. Today, politicians running for office find they must have access to the sophisticated and expensive tools of the media (TV, radio, advertising, etc.) to get their message across to the public and to get elected. This is the reality of the modern political era.

Without organizations like Plumbers Local 1 being able to set up funds which collectively represent the support of many individuals, only the very wealthy interests in our city and state could afford to make significant campaign contributions. Our elected leaders would only reflect the interests of the rich and powerful. The union worker, the middle class backbone of our city, would be forgotten.

So, Plumbers Local 1 has set up the Local 1 PAC Fund to assist in our political and legislative activities and to help give our members a voice in the political process. This fund does not come from union dues. This fund only exists through contributions made specifically for the purpose of political activity. This money, contributed freely by Local 1 members, goes to help elect candidates who support our views and will listen and consider our interests when the need arises.

For more information about the Local 1 PAC Fund,

contact the Officers of Plumbers Local 1 at (718-738-7500)

Click here to print : PAC Authorization Card