WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: The following was authored by long-time Western New York Labor Activist, former Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO/United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison and retired Communications Workers of America (CWA) Member Earl Frampton, a Contributing Labor Columnist to Your On-Line Labor Newspaper.  It first appeared on WNYLaborToday.com in 2014, but Earl asked Your On-Line Labor Newspaper to reprint his Labor Op-Ed that contains a message that he believes all Unionists should hear once more:

I’m always amazed at the number of people who blame Labor Unions for complacency, greed, the downturn in the economy and loss of jobs.

I’ve fought for more than 50 years for The American Dream - the right to a good job, a good education, to be able to own my house, to put my sons and daughters through college, and to ensure they had a chance to have a good job and a decent living in their time.

We in the Union Movement have done more to promote and preserve The American Dream than any other faction - be it corporations, fraternal groups and community groups and we continue to promote political legislation to help all people realize The American Dream.

And we have also continued to fight off the attacks by many who would destroy the Union Movement - if they could.

What Unions have gained over the years has benefited all with a better Middle-Class life - even helping corporations and companies become rich with our production and talents.

The Living Wage and Minimum Wage Standards that have been realized through Union Bargaining have made our economy stronger and sustained us through good times and bad.

Unions have promoted better schools and education, the Social Security System, Child Labor Laws, the Civil Rights Act, Women's Rights in the Workplace, Medicare, Unemployment Insurance and Compensation Laws.

While many lies have been and are continuing to be told about the Union Movement - there are a number of truths that should be told.

The message I’m trying to convey to everyone is that we, as Labor Leaders, need to spend more time educating our members so they can tell our story and the many successes Labor’s brought to the communities where we live and work in.

When some people admonish us and try to put us down, we need to let them know Organized Labor is alive and well, and gives continually of their time, talent and treasures to make our communities a better place to live and work.

It’s not the Unions that have sent our jobs overseas or demand outrageous salaries.

We’re not the ones who’ve caused today’s economic problems.

It's the greed of Big Business and poor management that’s devastated our American way of life.

We need to let our President and Congress know that it's our turn to make America a Nation of people who care for each other.

And, we must unite to take back our country.

If we start today, we might be able to save our country for our children and future generations to come.