Bob Hoffman and Cheryl Fritze from Fox 47’s Morning Blend hosted UAW Local 6000 President Ed Mitchell and Legislative Liaison Ray Holman on July 30, 2013. The TV audience learned Local 6000 represents all 23 state departments and has over 17,000 state employees in its bargaining unit.

You can watch the Morning Blend on Fox 47 weekdays at 6:30 am. To view past segments simply go to www.fox47news.com and click on Morning Blend tab or visit YouTube.

The UAW Local 6000 will tape eleven more shows discussing issues related to state workers and Michigan citizens. Topics will range from contract updates to information regarding current lawsuits filed on behalf of UAW Local 6000 members. Different guests will be featured on each show to provide interesting and valuable information.

To magnify our voice and presence as State Employees and Union members please take a couple of minutes to post the show using social media (i.e. twitter, Facebook, email, etc.) and help spread the word.

Next Air Dates:

• 8/27/13

• 9/20/13

• 10/15/13

• 11/20/13

• 12/18/13

• 1/21/14

•2/19/14

• 3/18/14

• 4/22/14

• 5/20/14

. Here is the link for the first segment. www.fox47news.com/the-morning-blend

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 resource available 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.