Page 11 - November 2020

As you well know, we have endorsed candidate Pat O’Brien for Cook County state’s attorney. We’ve invested a substantial sum of money to get our candidate elected. We expected our union mem- bers to help us distribute literature, knock on doors, put up yard signs and send out text messag- es to get our candidate’s message out to the public. I know it’s not the most fun thing to do with your own personal time off, when you would rather be at home with your family or kicking back a couple
of cold ones watching TV, but we expect participation on behalf of our members. Not just a few, but everyone. We had at least two dozen off-duty officers help with this campaign, giving up their personal time to help get out the vote. We and our candi- date appreciate the effort made on behalf of these officers, but we expect better participation from our membership.
Going forward, any entities that ask for a monetary contribu- tion from the union will be expected to help in future election endeavors. Anyone asking for a sponsorship, either as an indi- vidual or as a team, will be expected to participate in whatever the union asks of them to help get our goal accomplished. The free ride is over.
The baseball team has helped substantially, and we appre- ciate them. Other individuals have also helped on a consistent basis, and we appreciate them also. There is absolutely no rea-
son, unless you are sick or working, that you should not be able to help. As uncomfortable as it might be to knock on people’s doors and have to say hello to strangers, we have to make that sacrifice and step out of our comfort zone for the betterment of the whole. We expect better participation from our members, and we expect better turnout in the future.
It was great to see some of our retirees come out and par- ticipate. It’s always a pleasure to see them. These are men and women who have done their time and still are active in helping this union achieve its goals. Some other retirees have health is- sues, some have issues getting around, but they still participate, and their efforts are greatly appreciated.
Since I have been in this union, we have never had a Political Action Committee this involved in the election of any official. Some members will ask, “What is my union doing for me?” The answer, my friends, is that we are trying to help elect candi- dates who work on our behalf, especially a state’s attorney who will get felony charges approved against offenders who attack the police and who create havoc in our city and destroy public property. If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. It’s time to become active in your union. It’s time to stand up and be counted.
As always, be safe and stay healthy. And don’t forget: no law- yer, no statement.
ThirdVice President’s Report
The free ride is over
FERNANDO FLORES
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2020 11