Vote for Nick Bourff for Starke County Prosecutor

Nick Bourff is a practicing attorney at the law firm of Nichols & Wallsmith in Knox, Indiana. He specializes in the areas of Criminal Defense and Family Law. To date, he is unbeaten in criminal jury trials.

Nick grew up in Knox, and went on to earn his Bachelor's Degree in English and Speech from Wabash College. He then attended the University of Dayton School of Law and earned his Doctor of Law degree. Nick passed the Indiana Bar Exam the summer after he graduated law school, and has been practicing law in Starke County ever since.

Nick is married to Erin Bourff, who is originally from Winamac, Indiana. They have one son, Clive, who was born on May 24th, 2010. They currently live in Knox, and are both very active in the local community. Nick is the Vice President of Kiwanis, and holds positions on the Knox Park Board, the Starke County Junior Achievement Board of Directors, and the Purdue 4-H Extension Board. He is also a member of the Indiana Trial Lawyer's Association. Erin is a member of Starke County P.E.O. and the Pulaski County YMCA Board of Directors. They are members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Knox.

The Committee to Elect Nick Bourff Starke County Prosecuting Attorney represents both Nick and Erin's first journey into a political campaign, and all the support that can be raised will be much appreciated! On November 2nd, remember to vote, Bourff For Prosecutor!

You're darned right we remember!

Nancy Dembowski Our pick for sure

Nancy Dembowski has been endorsed by the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR). Nancy is a member of SOAR and is a friend of working families and retirees.
Let's maintain that necessary check and balance in Indiana.
Nancy's opponent is a "right to work for less", Chamber of Commerce, killer coke distributor and would be a nightmare for workers and retirees.

Vote for Nancy Dembowski !

Vote for David Matsey!

Election Day is quickly approaching. Voters have an important choice to make for Circuit Court Judge. I have a longstanding committment to my profession and to Starke County. We need to make a change and get the court back on track. I have a proven record of experience, hard work, and effective results. As Judge, I will:

• Control court spending
• Improve court efficiency
• Eliminate the huge backlog of unresolved cases
• Better manage the jail population and reduce dangerous overcrowding
• Provide the Change We Need
• Work effectively with other office holders

I am honored to serve Starke County and will do all I can to make sure Starke County is a safe place to live and raise a family. Thank you for your support! I ask for your vote on November 2nd.

David P. Matsey

Help the rich get richer

Donnelly v. Walorski

The Following is from the USW Rapid Response:

Congressional Candidate Comparison

Please click on the following for printable candidate comparison information for this key race in Indiana.

Second Congressional District (Donnelly v. Walorski)

Climbing out of the Republican Ditch

Vote for America-Vote for

Brad Ellsworth for U.S. Senate
Joe Donnelly for Congress in Indiana 2nd CD
Nancy Dembowski for Indiana State Representative in House District 17
Dwight Fish for Indiana State Representative in House District 21
Steve Kramer for Dyer Town Council

Join us for Dinner

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Zoo Parade

All Tricks and No Treats

Washington could have an especially frightening “treat” for Americans this Halloween. The President’s Fiscal Commission and deficit-hawks in Congress have a terrifying new plan for America’s workers, requiring them to stay on the job until 70 years old before qualifying for full Social Security benefits.

Be afraid…be very afraid…

Nancy Dembowski

Nancy Dembowski is my Representative in the Indiana House of Representatives District 17.

Nancy is a member of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR). She has done a magnificent job of representing working families and retirees in our state.

SOAR Chapter 30-18 representing NIPSCO retirees voted unanimously to endorse the re-election of Nancy. We hope that you will vote for her as well.

You can visit her website at this web address.

Welcome to Knox, Indiana

BOYCOTT Del Monte Fresh Fruit

TO ALL AMERICAN CONSUMERS:

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association, have serviced Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A. through a stevedore at the Pier 5, Camden, New Jersey facility for the past 22 years. They have performed their duties professionally, efficiently, and with respect to Del Monte’s economic concerns. They have never heard any complaints about their service or economics from this company. The employees that work on the terminal have been working for the same wage rate that they were making 19 years ago. They have the lowest pension plan in the industry as a result of keeping costs under control.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS:
Del Monte has a lease agreement with the State of New Jersey until 2018, and is now vacating the Pier 5 facility. Del Monte also has an operating agreement with Delaware River Stevedore, Inc, until December 31, 2010.

UNFAIR NOTICE:
On Thursday, July 22, 2010, Del Monte’s officers demanded $5 million in labor cost reductions and approximately $25 million in infrastructure improvements from the State of New Jersey. Del Monte imposed an unrealistic deadline of 4 days to meet its demands.

THE RESPONSE:
Based on the threat of losing at least 200 family-sustaining jobs, and the tax revenue generated by these jobs, they agreed to reduce their wages in some case 25%, cut manning, and possibly eliminate some benefits. They met Del Monte’s demands to reduce labor costs by $5 million.

The State of New Jersey acted quickly and prudently and offered a great modification package, and also offered to extend Del Monte’s lease, providing longer term security.

RESULT:
Del Monte has now served notice that it is moving to a Gloucester, New Jersey facility. Family-sustaining jobs will be replaced with “working poor” employment. This will erode further the already declining New Jersey tax base. The workers lose, the employers lose, and the states on both sides of the Delaware River lose.

ATTACK AGAINST AMERICAN WORKING STANDARDS 2009
WAS THE WORST ECONOMIC YEAR SINCE THE DEPRESSION OF 1929

FACT:
Del Monte had its 2nd Highest Sales year in 2009 following its record year in 2008 with over $3 billion in sales.

Del Monte’s “NET” Profit for 2009 was $144 million; in 2008 it was $157 million.

North America is 48% of net sales.

It is clear that the predominantly foreign ownership of Del Monte wants to exploit American workers to inflate its high profits.

I'm done with Del Monte Products until this company changes its ways.

DO NOT BUY DEL MONTE PRODUCTS.

A Costy and Brutal War

Labor Supports Dembowski, Donnelly, Ellsworth

Active and retired union members came out last Saturday in Plymouth, Indiana to support Nancy Dembowski for Indiana House of Representatives, Joe Donnelly for Congress and Brad Ellsworth for U.S. Senate.

Elect Pro-Worker Allies

Sisters and Brothers,

We've already fought successful trade cases that are protecting workers in rubber and pipe production, and we're actively pursuing cases that would boost paper and other sectors. We're working to promote manufacturing and prevent offshoring by taking China to task for their unfair, illegal, and job-killing trade practices. And we're constantly fighting to protect our workers by pushing for improved health and safety laws.

But our success in efforts like this often depends on support from elected officials. That is why it is crucial that we elect pro-worker allies when we vote in November's midterm elections.

In the coming weeks, you'll be hearing from the Union and your fellow Steelworkers with information on our candidates and the choices we face in 2010. I hope you will seriously consider this information and ultimately decide to join me and thousands of others as we support candidates who will stand with the Steelworkers and fight for our working families.

Leo W. Gerard
International President

Republican Teaparty Contract?

“Hmmm.....The Republican Contract with America.....Brought to you by the same folks who don’t believe YOU should have any contract at all. What a concept”.

Meridith Merriner

Tits for an Ass

The President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, looking for ways to balance the federal budget, met for the fifth time on Wednesday, but hard decisions are not expected until after the November 2 elections.

Social Security is one of several areas being considered by the panel for changes, and picketers outside the meeting demanded the commission keep its hands off the program. A top target of protesters was Alan Simpson, the former Republican senator and now a co-chairman of the commission, who this summer described Social Security as “a milk cow with 310 million tits.”

The National Organization for Women (NOW) has a new slogan: “Tits for an Ass,” and NOW members arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with 1,500 rubber baby bottle tops (nipples) and presented them to the Fiscal Commission as part of its campaign calling for the removal of Simpson.

According to The Washington Post, NOW President Terry O'Neill told Simpson that she was giving him the nipples “in hopes that you'll have the decency to resign from the commission.” When Simpson said that cutting Social Security had historically never happened, O’Neill responded, “Well let's hope that your efforts to make it happen now fail.”

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert