02-18-2016

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We want to make sure that Local 6000 members knows that MFPP is here to provide free and
confidential services to assist our Members with mortgage foreclosure issues.

The link, www.FightMortgageForeclosure.com, will connect you to a reliable source for
information on mortgage foreclosure, available options, and answers to frequently
asked questions. Most important, by filling out the online application you will be
assigned to a member of the MSHDA Certified Counseling Staff who will work with
you to determine what your options are and advocate for you with your Lender.

Following are Quick Facts on MFPP that may be of interest to you.

Quick Facts: Wayne County Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program

§ MFPP is a free taxpayer-supported service for Wayne County residents.

§ MFPP has assisted over 5000 residents.

§ One (1) in every thirty one (31) Wayne County homes was in foreclosure in 2010.

§ Only about 50% of families in foreclosure reach out for help and most of
them are not aware of free housing counseling services available

§ MFPP has a home retention rate of 58%, for residents that do seek
assistance, which is twice the national average.

§ MFPP is a HUD certified agency with counselors certified by the
Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Many Americans are guilty of historical amnesia when it comes to the
benefits we have as a result of labor unions. Today’s anti-unionism culture
is growing, spread by corporations and politicians to plant ideas in the
minds of the public to destroy the middle-class. The most forceful of
these ideas is the one that attacks public employee unions and the
negotiated benefits of members of those unions. Corporate lobbyists
have spread misinformation about the “idea” of lavish public employee
wages and benefits. Partly due to this, these myths are now widely
accepted by the majority of citizens. Corporations and politicians
continue to perpetuate myths that demonize public employees and
union membership. They build on the idea and image of public
employees who are greedily sucking the life out of state budgets with
huge salaries and pensions. Again, it’s an idea that has been planted
in the minds of American citizens to drive a wedge between the
public and private sector to further fuel attempts to drive the
middle-class in the race to the bottom.

There is power in becoming an active member of our Local. The power
is in the ability to use resourceavailable to us such as the freedom of
speech, power of the pen, the right to gather publicly and present
opposing views without being jailed. Recently, members of Local 6000
have utilized all those powers in writing our legislators in regards
to stopping legislation that would be harmful to issues concerning
retirement and benefits. Members have also used their power to
speak by making appointments with their legislator and to testify
at House and Senate Hearings. We have also gathered and held
rallies in response to attacks on our retirement benefits, health care,
public safety issues, and Wall Street’s attack on Main Street.
In the past few months public employees have demonstrated we
will no longer sit idly by while corporate America or politicians
take what we have worked long and hard to obtain. We will gather
where we need to apply pressure, speak up when we are attacked,
and oppose legislation that threatens to unravel our futures.